Graeme Souness: Arsenal ‘bordered on being a joke’

The Sky Sports pundit delivered a withering critique of Arsene Wenger’s side, claiming they “bordered on being a joke”.

[MATCH REPORT: Arsenal’s title dream dented by United defeat]

Arsenal are five points off the Premier League summit following the defeat, and three behind rivals Tottenham ahead of their home match with Swansea on Wednesday and next weekend’s north London derby.

"I want to be harsh on Arsenal. It was more of a tippy-tippy football by Arsenal, going nowhere, that’s why they have 60 per cent possession. Arsenal today - bordered on being a joke," Souness told Sky Sports.

"They turned up here against a Manchester United team that’s struggling because of injuries, introducing young players, confidence is low among some of the players.

"It’s tailor-made for a proper team to come here and do a number on a very under-strength Manchester United, and they didn’t.

"They have to go to Tottenham, they have to go to Barcelona. By March 16, they could be out of all competitions. This is an Arsenal team that you were saying month ago were a real team.

"Arsene Wenger must be tearing his hair out. There’s a word I want to use, but I can’t, which describes a lack of something real players have.

Arsenal host Swansea on Wednesday before the showdown with Spurs on Saturday.