Arsenal: Mikel Arteta defends tactics as pundits question 'handbrake on' approach | OneFootball

The Gunners’ overly cautious approach was critiqued as they drew with Man City last time out

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Arteta has been accused of being cautious with his approach in the wake of Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

The Gunners came from behind to earn a point at Emirates Stadium, but Arteta came under fire for starting a midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino - with playmakers Eberechi Eze and Ethan Nwaneri on the bench.

Carragher said it was “a waste of 45 minutes” and Neville added “they’ve got to take the handbrake off”.

And asked about the criticism, Arteta replied: “I don’t read it (what is said), but he (Arsenal’s press officer) does tell me what the narrative is around it.

“If you tell me that this is the main one, and if I am surprised, I would be extremely surprised with my knowledge and my know-how and how I analyse a football game.

“Because it was impossible for somebody to predict such a dominance from Arsenal throughout 96 minutes, because it never happened in 17 years of Pep [Guardiola] as a manager.

“So if the narrative goes somewhere else, and we’re talking about dominance, not about something else, how can you be dominant against such a team if you have, what was the word? Handbrake.

“Dominance and handbrake, they are two different words. But I accept everything. I will learn more to have a different vision.”

He continued, adding he was caught off guard by Neville and Carragher’s charge.

“I was just surprised, because when I saw everything and watching it back and all the stats, I was surprised.

“But I respect everybody’s opinion. And if I can see and learn something that I haven’t seen, I’m more than happy to do so.

“So that’s never an issue. And, as well, I don’t think that one player makes that. When you see the behaviour of our team, if you want to define that with one player playing one position, I understand a collective sport in a completely different way.

“And then we play Ebz (Eberechi Eze) on the right-hand side. Could he play 90 minutes? That’s a question I put for myself because none of you know the load that he can do.

“So it’s easy to say he could have played with the start, maybe not, because he already played two games from the start. And he’s never played as a right attacking midfielder, so that’s another one. A new element for him, but all good.”