Olaleye Idowu
Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has slammed Mikel Arteta over the Spaniard’s conservative approach to games.
He said this could cost the Gunners the Premier League title, adding that the former Man City assistant boss is making the same mistake repeatedly.
Arsenal narrowly escaped from being handed their second defeat of the season, drawing 1-1 with Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday.
Erling Haaland scored for Man City after just nine minutes, and Pep Guardiola’s side held their lead until the 93rd minute when Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic equaliser.
Arsenal recorded over 67 per cent possession against Pep Guardiola’s team, who were obviously defensive.
Carragher said that Arteta would have himself to blame for repeatedly picking the conservative midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino.
Arsenal were able to open up the game when Ebere Eze and Bukayo Saka replaced Noni Madueke and Merino.
Carragher said the Arsenal boss is being too cautious, and it could cost his side the title again.
“Mikel Arteta has got a team and squad that are that close to being really, really special in terms of winning a Premier League and maybe even a Champions League, I think they’re that good.
“But time after time, when it comes to these big games he picks a team that feels like he’s thinking more about the opposition.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t win the Premier League. Jose Mourinho won the Premier League three times, and he was a little bit like that.
“But for me, that was a waste for 45 minutes, and the reason I’m saying that is because I played for managers who did that at Liverpool.
“We were really close, we were a top team, but we never won the Premier League. I always felt at times under Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, maybe we had the handbrake on now and again in certain games.
“That is what Mikel Arteta is doing. Liverpool were there for the taking in that second half at Anfield. Man City were there for the taking at the start of this game, and he’s allowed them to come into the game.
“It’s just a recurring pattern, season after season, and if you’re Mikel Arteta or an Arsenal supporter, you’ve just got to hope that it doesn’t cost you at the end of the season because they are a brilliant team.”
Arsenal are now five points behind league leaders Liverpool.
