"How can you dominate Man City while playing with the handbrake on? Dominating and being cautious are two completely different concepts," Arteta questioned in a press conference on 23/9, ahead of the third-round Carabao Cup match against lower-league side Port Vale.
A few days prior, at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Man City in the fifth round of the Premier League. Arsenal controlled possession for 67.2% of the match, the highest percentage any opponent has achieved against a Pep Guardiola-led team in his 601 top-flight matches. The home side also managed 12 shots compared to Man City's 5. Arteta also became the first manager to go unbeaten in five consecutive league matches against Guardiola.
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Manager Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal training session on 23/9. Photo: Arsenal FC |
Manager Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal training session on 23/9. Photo: Arsenal FC
Despite the result, Arsenal faced criticism from several pundits for their cautious approach. Former Man Utd midfielder Roy Keane suggested Arteta had a more defensive mindset than that of a title challenger. Former Liverpool center-back Jamie Carragher asserted that Arsenal has one of the strongest squads, capable of winning both the Premier League and Champions League, and therefore Arteta should adopt a more attacking style in big games.
"In my experience and how I analyze matches, I've never seen a team control Man City for 96 minutes like Arsenal did. It's surprising to hear such criticism," Arteta expressed. "I respect all opinions, and if I can learn something new from those analyses, I'm willing to listen. But honestly, I'm taken aback."
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Eberechi Eze (right) celebrates with Martin Zubimendi after Arsenal's equalizer against Man City in the fifth round of the Premier League. Photo: Arsenal FC |
Eberechi Eze (right) celebrates with Martin Zubimendi after Arsenal's equalizer against Man City in the fifth round of the Premier League. Photo: Arsenal FC
One of the most controversial aspects of the match was Arteta's midfield setup. The Spanish manager opted for a defensively-minded trio of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi—similar to the lineup used in the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool in August.
After conceding a goal and struggling to create chances, Arteta brought on new signing Eberechi Eze in the second half. The English winger made an impact in stoppage time, chipping the ball from midfield for Gabriel Martinelli to run onto and lob over the goalkeeper, securing the 1-1 draw.
Regarding Eze's initial benching, Arteta stated, "I don't think a single player can determine the performance of the entire team. This is a team sport. Eze has only started two games and has never played as a right-sided attacking midfielder. Had I started him, I would have also questioned whether he could play the full 90 minutes."
Arteta added that tactical adjustments depend on various factors, not just his personal preferences. "What matters is that Arsenal showed character, weren't afraid, and were able to control the game against one of the strongest teams in the world," he said.
Hong Duy (Sky Sports)
