Gary Neville tells Mikel Arteta to STOP his Arsenal ‘experiment’ and ‘get back to basics’ after the Gunners could only draw with 10-man Fulham as they face stumbling Man United next

Gary Neville has told Mikel Arteta to stop experimenting with his Arsenal squad and “get back to basics” ahead of Sunday’s game with Manchester United.

The Gunners won their opening two games of the Premier League season against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, but failed to settle in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Fulham.

A late leveler from Joao Palhinha gave 10-man Fulham an unexpected point in the Emirates after it appeared that Bukayo Saka’s penalty and Eddie Nketiah’s goal in quick succession had put Arsenal on course for victory.

Arteta has claimed his team is ’10 times’ better than last season, but his tactical adjustments so far have failed to improve their fluidity.

United have problems of their own as they had to fight back from two goals down on Saturday to beat Nottingham Forest, who also had a man sacked.

Neville expects Arsenal to return to a more familiar line-up against Manchester United

But Neville believes Arteta should simply return to familiar tactics from last season, when Arsenal put pressure on Manchester City in the title race.

“I think they are in different stages. It is expected that Arsenal will fight for the league with the business they have done,” he told him Sky Sports podcast.

“There is a lot of pressure on Kai Havertz, but give the boy a chance and let him settle into the team.

“Looking at Arsenal I would say that for me there is an element of experimentation in it and the expectation that full-backs think they can play in midfield and midfielders think they can play full-backs.

‘Thomas Partey plays half and half in a game and sometimes there’s an element in it that you need to go back to basics.

“I expect Arteta to end that experiment next week and probably go with a solid four backs and four defenders.

“Maybe he will move Partey to midfield along with (Declan) Rice and Martin Odegaard, to return to something similar to what a team should look like.

Balancing a team is very important. Innovation is great, we like to see new things, but sometimes something that started as a good idea evolves into something that, to be honest, just doesn’t work.

Arsenal’s players look dejected during their draw against Fulham in the Emirates on Saturday

Gabriel Martinelli looks back after Fulham grabbed a late equalizer with just ten men on the field

“I think that’s the case with Arsenal. Next week I expect them to go back to something similar to the team they played last season and return to the basics of what they are: a 4-3-3 team.

“When they are on the field with the ball, when (Oleksandr) Zinchenko is left back, he jumps in midfield. Obviously Ben White or (Takehiro) Tomiyasu as a right back is turning to make those three. That will work.’

A visit to the Emirates will bring many concerns for United as Erik ten Hag struggles with injuries and a struggle for form in the early stages of the season.

Neville added: “Manchester United are decent on the counter-attack but it’s a big test for United.

“All three of their performances this season have been below average and if you are below average in the Emirates you will be beaten.

“United need to get up and improve their game, but Arsenal need to get back into a form the players are more comfortable with.”