Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has questioned the composure of Arsenal’s center-back pairing, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, after their uncharacteristic display in Sunday’s Premier League clash. Speaking on Sports Illustrated FC, Jones labeled the duo’s performance as “weak” and “fragile” during the Gunners’ 3-2 loss to the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium. This defeat, Arsenal’s first at home this season, saw their advantage at the top of the table shrink from seven points to just four as Manchester City and Aston Villa both capitalized on the slip-up.
While Magalhaes and Saliba have established themselves as one of the league’s most formidable defensive units, Jones noted a distinct lack of cohesion and uncharacteristic slowness throughout the match. Manchester United took advantage of these lapses, with Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, and Matheus Cunha all finding the net to end a run of 121 matches where Arsenal had avoided conceding more than twice. The result marks the first time since December 2023 that Mikel Arteta’s side has surrendered three goals in a single fixture, raising concerns about the backline’s stability during the high-pressure title run-in.
Jones suggested that the atmosphere within the stadium contributed to the defensive instability, noting that a palpable sense of anxiety seemed to affect the players’ decision-making. Despite Arsenal maintaining the best defensive record in the 2025/26 campaign, the former England international believe the lack of a “connection” between the two center-halves allowed United to regain momentum. The Gunners now face a critical period as they attempt to rediscover the defensive solidity that has defined their season so far.
Phil Jones detailed his observations of the duo’s uncharacteristic struggles during his post-match analysis: “I like Gabriel and Saliba. I think they’ve been top-quality centre-halves, but it was the most fragile I have ever seen them at the weekend. I felt like they were nervous, and I noticed there wasn’t much connection between the two of them. They noticed a feeling of fear in the stadium, along with that sense of worry. They weren’t poor at all, but they seemed fragile and a little weak sometimes, and it is the most fractious I have seen those two. You can feel that fear and desperation of wanting it so badly, and it’s almost like it can spread to others. When United equalized, it spread through the whole team.”
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