Gary Neville accuses Arsenal players of forming "little mafia" against Liverpool

Gary Neville has accused some Arsenal players of forming a "little mafia" during the Gunners' defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, and suggested that Mikel Arteta may have to move them on to be successful.

Arsenal lost 3-0 to Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday, leaving Neville shocked by the efforts of forward players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe.

The former Manchester United full-back was not impressed by any of the front six for the home side including Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Odegaard, Dani Ceballos and Thomas Partey.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Neville said: "We don't know what goes on behind the scenes at Arsenal, but I have to say there's a few of those players in the front part of the pitch who looked like a little mafia against Liverpool.

"It looked like a group of players who weren't comfortable, like there was a disconnect between them and the manager. The manager looked like he'd had enough of them. He had that glazed-eye look.

"It's instinct, but we've been around football for long enough to know when a group of players are disinterested."

Neville went on further to explain that these players may become an issue for Mikel Arteta and hinder him from being a successful manager in North London.

"He's not going to be able to implement his plan unless those players from Saturday decide to start playing for them, or he gets rid of them. I doubt the first option because something didn't feel right. I came away feeling there were real issues with a group of those players," he added.

Arsenal currently sit 10th in the Premier League, nine points off Chelsea in fifth, so will need a string of good results to make a European spot come the end of the season.