Gary Neville has been left "frustrated" by Arsenal forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for their poor positioning during the team's recent run.

Arsenal had the chance to gain some ground on title rivals Liverpool, who then dropped points themselves at home to struggling Manchester United on Sunday. However, the Gunners failed to put extra pressure on the Reds as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Brighton, who scored a controversial 61st-minute penalty to salvage a point.

While many could think Arsenal were simply unlucky to concede a penalty and were also limited with substitutions thanks to injuries, Sky Sports pundit Neville wasn't so forthcoming about the team. The Premier League icon spoke after the game, and singled out two players that he wants to see more of in the future.

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The ex-Manchester United defender said: "Jesus, I watched him again last night, I actually love Gabriel Jesus, he's got a lot of heart – but he is everywhere except where you want him.

"Havertz is a little bit the same, you want them really in that six-yard box. It is just a bit frustrating watching them at times because I think they have got something about them, the journey they are on with the manager, and they will be happy today that Liverpool have dropped points and they are still in it – but they are going to have to improve enormously, I think."

Havertz has been left out of the last two matchday squads due to illness, but has been an instrumental part in keeping Arsenal scoring goals during the 2024/25 season – netting seven and assisting two in 17 Premier League games so far.

Jesus has scored just three Premier League goals, but has helped Arsenal reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with four goals in just three games in the cup run. Both forwards are doing a job, but Neville wants more from them – and the squad in general – if they are to challenge for the title this year.

Speaking more generally about Arsenal's ambitions for Premier League glory, the 49-year-old said: "I thought Arsenal would get through the game but the problem is they just can't seem to get that sort of fluidity in the final third of the pitch. They were hanging on a little bit at the end, Brighton came back into the game and I was disappointed a little bit by Arsenal in the sense that at the end of the game, this feeling that sort of what cost them was the penalty decision.

"No, what cost you was that you're not grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck and seeing it out. I've got Arsenal to win the league because I just thought they would grow into the second half of the season but Liverpool have got more electricity about them, they've got more threat up front and unless Arsenal fix that and get that dealt with – Arsenal can win this league but they've got to deal in January somehow.

"Whether it's players coming back or a change of something with the current players that they've got or signing one or two new players. I saw, I think it was on Sky Sports News just there about (Alexander) Isak, it might have been Friday, for 150 million – that's never going to happen is it? You know Arsenal are not going to spend £150million on Alexander Isak in January. It's just never going to happen."

Fixtures are coming thick and fast for Mikel Arteta's squad, as they take on Newcastle United tonight (January 7) in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Then in FA Cup action, Arsenal will welcome Manchester United on Sunday, January 12 for a 3pm kick-off.