Former Arsenal forward and club legend Thierry Henry publicly criticized the team’s mental fortitude following their weekend defeat against Aston Villa.
The moment that drew Henry’s ire occurred after the team conceded a decisive, late goal in the match, which saw several players visibly collapsing in unison on the pitch in frustration. Emi Buendia’s last-minute strike caused the Gunners to suffer their first defeat after an impressive 18-game unbeaten run, a result that significantly opened up the title race.
Following Arsenal’s loss, Manchester City subsequently defeated Sunderland, closing the gap on the title contenders to just two points.
Henry expressed the opinion that the immediate, visible display of dejection by players, including David Raya and Declan Rice, was an overreaction that transmitted an inappropriate message.
The legendary attacker, who scored prolifically for the Gunners in the Premier League, articulated his concerns during an appearance on CBS Sports:
“What I didn’t like in that game was when they conceded the goal at the end everyone fell on the ground like you lost something,” Thierry, who painted the Premier League with goals during his time at Arsenal, told CBS Sports. “You lost a game, the same way that when you win the game it doesn’t mean you’re going to win everything. “But we lost a game away at Villa and everyone fell down like we lost something bigger than what it was. “It’s just a matter of when you have never won anything, it’s tough to cross that line. The fear of winning is sometimes bigger than the fear of losing.”
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