Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has pushed back against criticism following his side’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, responding to claims that his approach was too cautious.
Following Sunday’s clash at the Emirates, pundits and fans questioned Arteta’s game plan, accusing the Gunners of playing with the “handbrake on” and being overly conservative in the opening half.
Despite a sluggish start that saw Arsenal go over 30 minutes without a shot and not register one on target until first-half stoppage time, the home side battled back to earn a point thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser.
However, Arteta highlighted Arsenal’s dominance in possession and control, noting that City had just 33.2% of the ball — the lowest for a Pep Guardiola team in a top-flight match.
“How can you dominate against Manchester City by playing with a handbrake?” Arteta said. “Dominance and handbrake — they are two different words. I was surprised by that criticism.”
Midfield Choices Under the Microscope
Much of the scrutiny centered around Arteta’s midfield setup, particularly his decision to start Mikel Merino in an advanced role ahead of Eberechi Eze. The switch to bring Eze on at halftime shifted momentum, leading to the late equaliser.
Still, Arteta stood by his initial selection.
“One player doesn’t define the behaviour of a team,” he said. “Eze played two games in a row and had never featured as a right-sided attacking midfielder. It’s easy to say he should have started, but maybe he couldn’t have played 90 minutes.”
Arteta also pointed out that tactical decisions aren’t always visible to the outside world, especially when it comes to managing player fitness and adapting to new roles.
Calls for More Risk in Big Matches
Several high-profile pundits called for Arteta to show more ambition in key fixtures, suggesting his tactical caution could hold Arsenal back in the title race.
One former Premier League star said Arsenal “gave away 45 minutes” by setting up conservatively, while another warned that a pattern of cautious starts could hurt the club in tight competitions.
Another ex-player, reflecting on his time under iconic managers, added:
“The great ones were gamblers — they played to win. Arteta needs to take more calculated risks if Arsenal are to seriously challenge for the top.”
