Mikel Arteta has responded to criticism of his team’s playing style in the 2-2 draw with Man City last weekend, insisting people need to understand the context of how games are played.
The Gunners were reduced to 10 men just before half-time, and the manager’s approach was to take off Bukayo Saka, put Ben White on, and try to defend the lead. It nearly worked, as we know, but John Stones late goal earned City a point they probably didn’t deserve on the day.
Ahead of our game against Leicester on Saturday afternoon, the Arsenal boss was asked about comments made by the likes of Roy Keane and Graeme Souness which suggested the defensive effort was ‘small time’ and showed an ‘inferiority complex.
“I want to win the way we prepare the games,” he said, “and the way we want to play in our style but … understanding the context.
“I want to wear flip-flops and shorts and t-shirts, but with this weather, I think I would be very silly to do that. I better get the umbrella.
“Oh but Mikel. What are you doing?”
“No! I’m very brave!
“Yeah, but tomorrow you are sick.”
Pressed further on the intensifying rivalry with City, and criticism of his tactical approach, Arteta responded, “Well, I prefer this much more than somebody clapping my back after the game saying, ‘Well done, you guys are going in the right direction’.”
“A team has to control and dominate every single scenario. If you want to compete at the level that we are in against the opposition that we have, you have to be the best in the world at doing almost everything in football.”
Certainly things at Etihad appear to be a bit fractious, with Pep Guardiola reportedly ‘furious’ at some comments made by Arteta – read the Arseblog opinion on that in today’s blog.
Heh, brilliant
Subtle way of telling Pep and Citeh to go fuck themselves, I am your equal. Genuinely been brilliant watching the media, rivals fans losing their collective shit.
Winter is coming!
The criticism from pundits about the way Arsenal played against Manchester City away was pathetic and Arteta was right to ridicule it. But I did think we were unnecessarily over-negative against Brighton at home when reduced to ten men.
We didn’t watch the same game then. We had the better chances even after going down to 10 men. If the subs were made just a couple of minutes earlier we would’ve comfortably won the game.
Saying this in hindsight because Spurs won against some farmer in the Europa?
We played Brighton. It’s hard enough to play against them with 11 men with they way they play… Let alone 10. We could have even nicked that game of Havertz and Saka had their shooting boots on.
Keane and Neville failed as managers… But are always the first to talk about what they think other managers should do. I know they are thick, but the irony shouldn’t be lost on ’em.
When Roy Keane is criticising teams for using the dark arts, you know that the entire punditry class is utterly redundant and should be ignored from this day forward.
The pundits – or ‘content providers’ as I prefer to call them – should have been ignored way before the City game. And I mean years, if not decades before.
I don’t disagree necessarily but I think in terms of the makeup squad at the moment (whoever you want to assign responsibility for that) playing fairly defensively is generally our best bet. It feels sometimes like our recent run of success has tricked some fans into thinking we’re this inherently incredible potent attacking team, when the truth of it is we’re fundamentally just very structured and ordered, and everything else rests on that. So in a game like Brighton where we go a goal down, the instinctive reaction of the team isn’t ever going to be to continue to seek… Read more »
Guardiola is a cheat with no less than 115 charges levelled against him. Roy Keane on the other hand is just a fucking cunt.
It’s remarkable the quality of punditry on display. Nevil, failed coach, keanw failed coach, Tim failed coach, owen horse manure, Carra genuine twit, yet they would have you belive they know what Arteta is about.
You forgot that carrot headed c** t scholes.Another Bitter Manure pundit talking out of his arse.
Hear hear
I’m so happy that we are using the dark arts. I’ve been wanting this for years. We’ve been too nice and easy to play against for too long. They’re scared of us now. Keep going!!
There’s criticism of how we played, ten men away against City? Is this real?
Yep. It is well rewarded propaganda.
There appears to be a very well funded media campaign to frame the 115ers as the underdog and the victim.
Expect it to get very much worse
Pep is a cunt. Simple as…
Another gem, up there with the M25 quote
Pep’s paranoia in the linked article is a joy to read. No Arsenal employee has said anything publicly about the 115 charges but his mind immediately goes there.
He has appeared uncharacteristically worked up over that on more than one occasion. One has to wonder why.
Arteta The Main Man