Former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira questioned Arsenal’s mental strength in the Premier League title race after a damaging home defeat to Manchester United.

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has raised concerns over the Gunners’ mentality in the Premier League title race following their shock 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

The most shocking moment of the game was when Matheus Cunha fired home a sensational 87th-minute winner to seal victory for Michael Carrick’s side and leave the league leaders stunned on their own turf.

The result has tightened the title race considerably, with Arsenal’s advantage at the top of the Premier League table cut from seven points to four after a worrying three-game winless run that has stalled their momentum at a crucial stage of the season.

Vieira said Arsenal remain in control of their destiny, but he questioned whether they have the mental edge required to see the job through. “They are still four points clear, but there are still questions about the mental strength of the team,” he said.

Vieira was particularly critical of Arsenal’s attacking display, suggesting key players failed to impose themselves on the game. He felt Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard did not do enough to trouble United’s defence when it mattered most.

“It’s not just that they lost the game, it’s the way they lost it,” Vieira explained. “They need a leader to lift the spirit of the team. They have to play with more energy and take more risks. They have the quality, but they didn’t play with the freedom to express themselves.”

The former captain also stressed the importance of simplifying their approach as pressure mounts. Vieira believes Arsenal must rediscover their identity quickly, warning that dropped points in games like this could prove decisive in the title run-in.

“They need to go back to the basics,” he concluded. “It was a must-win game. They needed to send a message to the rest of the league, and too many players didn’t perform today.”