Why Arsenal’s ‘Weak Minds’ Matter Little

​If you were ranking the coldest reactions to high-pressure Premier League moments, Patrick Vieira’s 2004 strike against Tottenham would be among them.​

Three minutes in, the French World Cup winner finished a crisp counter-attack.

Given the stakes of the derby game, which would determine whether Arsenal would win the title and go undefeated that season, you might expect Vieira celebrate wildly.

Instead, as his teammates mobbed him, the Frenchman motioned with flattened palm to ‘calm down,’ his face unflinching.

Vieira was not always this composed; he received several red cards and acted recklessly at times.

But while you could criticize his composure at times, there was never any doubt about his winning mentality.

His influence was so strong that as the Gunners declined, his absence was repeatedly cited.

Over two decades have passed since he last delivered the title to North London.

Now, after years of anticipation, Arsenal commands pole position for the Premier League title this season.

In recent weeks, both Manchester City and Aston Villa have faltered, allowing the Gunners to build an unassailable double-digit lead at the top.

Yet, despite this opening, the North Londoners have squandered their opportunity, matching their rivals in dropping crucial points.

Vieira then posed a question no Arsenal fan wants to face: is mental weakness holding the team back?

“They are still four points clear, but there are still questions about the mental strength of the team,” Vieira told Sky Sports after Arsenal lost 2-3 to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

“It’s not just that they lost the game, it’s the way they lost the game. [Bukayo] Saka and [Leandro] Trossard didn’t produce enough to worry United.

“They need a leader to lift the spirit of the team. They need to understand when they are on the pitch they have to play with more energy and more risks. They have the quality.

“They didn’t play with the freedom to express themselves. They need to go back to the basics. To express themselves, play with freedom, and go forward. There were too many players that didn’t perform today.

“It was a must-win game. They needed to send a message to the rest of the teams in the league.”

Those comments were put to manager Arteta, who acknowledged the club legend’s concerns.

“That’s fine, we accept every opinion, where it comes and where it’s coming from and they will have the right reasons to say it,” he replied.

“At the end we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day and we were absolutely brilliant in Milan and today we weren’t that good.

“I don’t know if it was mental because of how much they played, but because we were poor, especially technically in certain aspects of the game against a team that, when you make those mistakes, they can punish you big time and that was the difference.”

Vieira’s old adversary, Roy Keane, who led United to many titles, was harsher on Arteta’s side.

“Pressure was on Arsenal today,” he said.

“They saw the other results; they have everything going for them in all competitions. That is pressure; they are feeling the pressure.

“It is how they deal with it. That’s what has cost them over the last few years when they have got themselves in good positions.

“The sign over the last few weeks. The Liverpool game, the Forest game and today. Losing that momentum.

“I can’t believe they don’t look like a confident team. Play the game, they are obviously playing the occasion.

“They have to get back to basics and embrace this challenge instead of being frightened of it.”

Still, despite these questions, unlike the previous three seasons of near misses, where Arsenal finished second to a more relentless rival, there is no real candidate who looks capable of unseating them this time.

Manchester City, expected to chase the Gunners, started 2026 poorly, barely winning and looking exhausted.

Aston Villa, once overperforming, has reverted to expected results in recent weeks.

Although Arsenal fans may be frustrated the club couldn’t capitalize on rivals’ weak form, there is little to suggest Arsenal will be displaced from the top of the table.

Vieira is likely correct: this team lacks his era’s character—but this season, it shouldn’t matter.