Arsenal's Arteta Hits Back at Critics Over “Cautious” Tag
Mikel Arteta responds to criticism over Arsenal's tactics, defending his approach after a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. Read more.
“So if the narrative goes somewhere else and we're talking about dominance, how can you be dominant against such a team if you have...”
Mikel Arteta has come out strongly in defense of his tactics, pushing back against claims that he's being too cautious with Arsenal's gameplay. The criticism intensified after the team's 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, with former England stars Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher suggesting Arsenal played with the “handbrake on” due to Arteta's team selection.
Arteta remains confident in his approach, emphasizing that Arsenal's bid to end their trophy drought won't be ruined by his tactics. He pointed out that dominance in football isn't just about possession or shots on target, citing the statistics from the match against Manchester City. According to Arteta, Arsenal's performance was unfairly criticized, considering the team has consistently dominated matches but struggled to convert that dominance into wins.
In recent matches, Arsenal has shown promising performances, often enjoying dominant possession and high shot counts. However, they've struggled to capitalize on these chances, with fine margins and occasional VAR controversies working against them. Arteta believes his team “deserved” wins in several recent games, highlighting the need for clinical finishes and tangible results.
Arteta's defenders argue that rebuilding a team takes time and patience. With significant investment in the squad and a clear vision for the team's future, Arteta is focused on long-term success rather than short-term gains. Critics, however, point to Arsenal's inconsistency in the final third and the lack of trophies as reasons to question Arteta's tactics and decision-making.
Arsenal's strategy was put to the test without Martin Odegaard, but the midfield trio of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino didn't quite click as expected. This was reminiscent of their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in August. Manchester City capitalized on Arsenal's slow start, with Erling Haaland scoring an early goal at the Emirates Stadium.
The tide turned when Mikel Arteta made crucial substitutions at halftime, bringing on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. This move injected new energy into the team, allowing Arsenal to take control of the game. Eze's pace and creativity likely played a significant role in shifting the momentum in Arsenal's favor.
Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Manchester City left them five points behind league leaders Liverpool in the title race. The Gunners needed a stoppage-time goal from Gabriel Martinelli to rescue a point, showcasing their ability to snatch crucial results in tight matches.
Without a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup and finishing as Premier League runners-up for the last three seasons, Mikel Arteta faces increasing scrutiny about his tactics and ability to lead Arsenal to championship glory. Critics question whether his approach can yield the desired results, especially in high-pressure games.
Arteta fired back at critics, defending his tactics and emphasizing the team's dominance in the match against Manchester City. He pointed out that Arsenal's possession and shots on target demonstrate their superiority, even if the scoreline doesn't always reflect it. Arteta's confidence in his approach remains unwavering, and he believes his team can overcome any obstacle with the right mindset and strategy.
The debate surrounding Arteta's tactics centers on his team selection and approach to big games. Critics argue that he is too cautious, citing the midfield selection against Manchester City, which featured Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi. Arteta counters that his approach is calculated and focused on exploiting weaknesses in the opposition, rather than simply playing for possession.
Mikel Arteta provides an injury update on Noni Madueke 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 23, 2025
“I don't read it, but if you tell me that this is the main one (narrative), I would be extremely surprised with my knowledge and my know-how and how I analyse a football game,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“Because it was impossible for somebody to predict such a dominance from Arsenal throughout 96 minutes, because it never happened in 17 years of Pep (Guardiola) as a manager.
“So if the narrative goes somewhere else and we're talking about dominance, how can you be dominant against such a team if you have, what was the word? Handbrake? Dominance and handbrake: they are two different words.”
“I respect everybody's opinion, but when I saw everything and I watched it back and all the stats, I was surprised,” he said.
Mikel Arteta's conservative team selections have sparked debate, particularly after Arsenal's slow start against Manchester City. Despite previous instances where cautious lineups have led to inconsistent displays, Arteta remains steadfast in his approach.
Ready to give our all - together ✊ pic.twitter.com/qSsrs7bsjZ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 23, 2025
Arteta didn't concede that his lineup choices contributed to Arsenal's sluggish beginning against City. Instead, he emphasized the team's overall performance, highlighting their dominance in possession and shots on target. Arteta's confidence in his tactics suggests he's willing to weather criticism for the sake of his vision.
“We played Eze on the right-hand side. Could he play 90 minutes? That's a question I put for myself because none of you know the load that he can do.
“So it's easy to say he could have played from the start. Maybe not. Because he already played two games from the start.”
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