To be honest, Arteta just needs to stop overthinking games. I don't understand why you as a manager can't just put your best team out and trust them to perform!
No Arsenal fan would forgive Arteta for his selection yesterday against a depleted City side. Starting three defensive midfielders in the midfield is definitely shooting yourself in the legs . I can't fathom his reason for leaving both Eze and Nwaneri on the bench when it was glaring we needed them if we need to make an headway attacking wise
Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time lob ensured Arsenal earned a point against a dogged Manchester City side that performed unlike anything we‘ve seen since Pep Guardiola took charge.
Erling Haaland’s early goal tamed the hosts, whose sub-optimal starting XI limited their capacity to hurt a Cityzens outfit that remains flawed.
However, respect was paid to the Gunners after the restart, as City poured bodies behind the ball in a bid to contain an Arsenal side emboldened by the substitutes Arteta simply had to make. It looked like the visitors were going claim their first victory in this fixture since 2023, but their winless run against Arteta’s title hopefuls continued by virtue of Eze‘s late combination with Martinelli.
It was Mikel Arteta’s midfield selection that drew plenty of criticism during and after Arsenal’s 1–0 defeat at Anfield last month. It was a combination that few thought we’d see again anytime soon, but the Gunners boss curiously whipped it out again on Sunday afternoon.
Why the Arsenal manager thought risk-aversion and caution were required against a team that have already shown this term, despite their summer arrivals and the presence of a phenom up top, that they’re not an imperious juggernaut, will want to be known by a surely frustrated set of supporters.
This was a game that should’ve been there for Arsenal, but Arteta’s decision to mitigate Martin Ødegaard’s absence by starting Mikel Merino on the right side of his midfield three undermined their attempt to seize the contest and take it away from Guardiola’s side.
Simply put, they were easy to defend against in the opening 45 minutes, with the home crowd waiting for a set-piece or Noni Madueke to get on the ball so they could anticipate final third productivity.
The half-time arrivals made a difference, but this was a game for Eberechi Eze to be involved in from the very beginning. Liverpool’s lead is already five points despite Arsenal’s late show. We switch our attentions to domestic cup action on Wednesday, when we travel to take on Port Vale in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Premier League action resumes next weekend, away to Newcastle United on Sunday, September 28.
