Mikel Arteta defends Arsenal approach after City stalemate amid ‘overcautious’ claims | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has rejected suggestions that his Arsenal side played with the “handbrake on” in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, insisting the Gunners’ dominance could not have been achieved through conservatism.

The Arsenal manager faced criticism from Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, who accused him of being overly cautious in big games. Neville argued that Arsenal had “wasted 45 minutes” by failing to threaten City early on, while Carragher suggested Arteta too often prioritises nullifying the opposition rather than unleashing his team’s attacking potential.

Arsenal rescued a late point at the Emirates through Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time strike, cancelling out Erling Haaland’s opener. Yet their lack of first-half fluency, no shot until the 31st minute, and none on target until stoppage time, fuelled accusations of restraint.

Arteta, however, dismissed those claims. “With my knowledge, know-how and how I analyse a football game, it was impossible for me to predict such a dominance from Arsenal for 96 minutes,” he said, pointing out that City registered just 33.2% possession, the lowest of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career. “How can you be dominant against such a team with a handbrake? Dominance and handbrake, they are two different words.”

Midfield selection was a particular flashpoint, with Arteta preferring Mikel Merino over Eberechi Eze, who was introduced at half-time. Critics argued Eze should have started, but Arteta defended his decision, citing fitness management and positional familiarity. “Could he play 90 minutes? That’s a question I put for myself. It’s easy to say he could have started, but maybe not,” he told Sky Sports.

Arsenal must gamble to win the Premier League

Neville, Carragher, and Roy Keane all stressed that Arsenal’s caution could undermine their title challenge. Keane, drawing on his own experience under Sir Alex Ferguson, urged Arteta to be a “gambler” in such fixtures. “Because of the standards of the other teams… that won’t be enough,” he warned.

For Arteta, though, Sunday’s evidence tells a different story. Against the most dominant side of the past decade, Arsenal controlled territory, pressed with intensity, and ultimately forced their equaliser. Whether that balance of caution and control proves sufficient across a gruelling title race remains the defining question of their season.

Arsenal return to action in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, travelling to Port Vale.

GFN | Finn Entwistle