In Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher expressed their concerns about Mikel Arteta, suggesting he is once again “putting the handbrake on,” a decision that could jeopardize their chances at the Premier League title.
Similar to their match against Liverpool in August, Arteta opted for a midfield trio consisting of Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, and Declan Rice against City—a choice that sparked criticism following a prior defeat at Anfield.
By halftime, Arsenal was down 1-0 due to Erling Haaland’s goal in the ninth minute. Arteta responded by replacing Merino with Eberechi Eze, shifting the midfield dynamics.
Prior to this change, and with the absence of captain Martin Odegaard because of a shoulder injury, Arsenal struggled offensively, managing their first shot only in the 31st minute and not testing the goalkeeper until stoppage time of the first half.
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Arsenal did equalize with a brilliant stoppage-time finish from Gabriel Martinelli, assisted by Eze, but discussions around Arteta’s strategy—especially considering the team limited City to only 32.8% possession, the lowest in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career—dominated post-match commentary.
“I believe Arsenal is an outstanding team, arguably the best squad in the Premier League, and I suspected they’d triumph over Manchester City 2-0,” stated Carragher.
“Arteta has a team that is on the brink of greatness, potentially capable of winning both the Premier League and even the Champions League, yet he consistently selects lineups that seem overly cautious in high-stakes games,” Carragher continued. “This conservative approach feels like a wasted opportunity, echoing my experiences with managers like Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, where we were close but never clinched the Premier League.”
He added, “In the second half at Anfield and against Manchester City, the opposition was there for the taking, but Arteta allowed them to regain momentum. This pattern repeats season after season—if you’re Arteta or an Arsenal fan, let’s hope it doesn’t cost you the title as you possess a fantastic squad with razor-thin margins.”
Neville further elaborated, “I kept wondering whether Arteta would take risks and communicate his belief in his players through the team sheet. Seeing Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino included didn’t inspire confidence for me.”
Pointing out that when making two substitutions at halftime, it indicates plans went astray, he questioned, “Should I have started with Eze? Should Martinelli have been in the lineup? While I understand Saka’s omission, there was a need for a more aggressive approach from the beginning.”
Neville emphasized, “At Arsenal, attacking changes should be made at 0-0 to maximize the chances of influencing the game while also conveying belief in the players. Doubts linger about Arsenal until proven otherwise; they’re an engaging squad, but they need to remove the handbrake to capitalize on their potential.”
Keane: Arteta’s defensive mindset needs to evolve!
Sky Sports’ Roy Keane concurred that Arsenal must shift their mentality to secure a Premier League title this season.
“Throughout my career with managers like Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson, I recognized them as risk-takers focused strictly on winning, rather than worrying about opposition tactics. They pursued victory, while Arteta’s approach seems too cautious,” remarked Keane to Sky Sports.
He continued, “Arteta’s tactics suggest a mindset of avoiding defeat rather than embracing risk for victory. Competing with high-standard teams like Liverpool and Man City necessitates a more assertive approach.”
Keane urged, “Arsenal should go all out at the outset, utilizing their talent and depth without hesitancy. It raises questions of whether the players genuinely believe in their ability.”
“Each week, Arteta professes pride in his team. I would appreciate if he expressed the expectation for more, given Arsenal’s resources and ambitions, instead of simply being proud after each match,” Keane reflected.
“True pride is reserved for when trophies are won, and that remains Arsenal’s next goal. They should evaluate whether securing a draw against a less-than-stellar Manchester City side is truly commendable,” he added. “Arteta must adopt a more critical stance if they aspire to claim the league title; otherwise, they may find themselves second yet again.”
Arteta’s terse response on midfield strategy
Addressing questions about his midfield selection in the press conference, Arteta had a pointed reply. “I considered it the best option to start the match. No one questioned my midfield choices before when we played Bilbao. Different game—but same midfield structure. I believed it was the optimal strategy for the team.”
When asked if the second-half introduction of Eze indicated an initial miscalculation, Arteta countered, “It’s too simplistic to assert that. We executed our strategy well initially. They scored with their first opportunity, which caused a brief period of uncertainty, but soon after we regained control and dominated the game.”
Is the criticism of Arteta justified?
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz at the Emirates Stadium:
While Carragher and Keane’s criticisms regarding Arsenal’s creativity—particularly from open play—may seem harsh, the Gunners managed to score against Manchester City and displayed some offensive prowess in recent matches. However, they often find themselves stuck at pivotal moments, relying on substitutes to swing the game in their favor or resorting to set-pieces during key fixtures.
For substantial segments of each match, Arsenal has struggled to break through, showing inconsistencies. In stark contrast, the current league leaders, Liverpool, remain steadfast at 15 points, leaving Arsenal trailing by five points.
Over their last four outings, Arteta’s conservative selection of midfield players has not aided their cause, with the duo of Merino and Rice starting ten Premier League matches, achieving only a single win against a relegated team.
With this evidence, certainly, it’s worth examining whether Arteta should alter his approach, perhaps integrating Eze from the onset if Odegaard’s injury keeps him out, or even consider Ethan Nwaneri, who stepped up notably in previous matches.
Arteta has frequently depended on substitutes, particularly Martinelli, for tactical shifts lately, but as seen during the 1-0 loss to Liverpool, this approach can’t always ensure results. Falling five points behind Liverpool, the team must rectify missed opportunities, especially in matches against key rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City.