Gary Neville explains the one reason why Arsenal isn’t a ‘graveyard’ like Man Utd anymore

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Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s current struggles are down to the club’s failure to manage one thing that Arsenal have gotten right. 

Arsenal are a well run club these days. A fractured relationship with the fans has been healed and the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium is now better than ever. Deadwood and divisive figures have been ejected from the squad, and Mikel Arteta has built a young, exciting team capable of competing for major honours.

It has been a slow, difficult process to get to this point. There were consecutive eighth-place finishes in the Premier League, the pain of missing out on the top four, followed by the heartbreak of falling short in a title push.

Arteta has come under pressure at times, but the hierarchy at the club consistently stood by him. They deserve plenty of credit for that. Since the Spaniard’s appointment, the stewardship of owners Stan and Josh Kroenke has ensured that the manager was given the time and support he needed to transform the club.

The same sense of unity, patience, and forward-planning cannot be applied to Manchester United. Former Red Devils full-back Gary Neville has now identified the root of the club’s suffering.

Gary Neville recognises the Arsenal recipe for success

Describing Manchester United as being like a “graveyard” right now, the pundit said on The Gary Neville podcast, “there is a cultural thread of negativity and toxicity that runs right through this club that isn’t going away – Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Villa and Brighton. They are all pretty well run now. They are well-run clubs from top to bottom. Manchester United aren’t a well-run football club. And the owners are the problem.”

The Arsenal ownership haven’t always been popular figures at the Emirates Stadium, but winning football matches is always a good salve for any such unrest.

Equally, smart recruitment in the transfer windows has helped to change the complexion of the state of affairs at Arsenal. Sporting director Edu deserves his share of credit for bringing in talented young players who have fully bought-in to the ethos that Arteta has cultivated in the dressing room. Edu also played a role in keeping Arteta at the club.

Arsenal fans will be hoping that Manchester United’s own woes continue for some time yet.