Mikel Arteta has hit back at criticism of Arsenal’s tactics in their 1-1 draw with Manchester City, insisting he was “extremely surprised” by the negative reaction.
Gabriel Martinelli’s late equaliser earned Arsenal a point after Erling Haaland’s opener, with the Gunners dominating possession. City’s 33.2% share was the lowest ever recorded by a Pep Guardiola team in more than 600 league games.
Despite this, pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher accused Arteta of playing with the “handbrake on” after leaving £67.5m signing Eberechi Eze out of the starting lineup in favour of the more defensive Mikel Merino.
Arteta dismissed the criticism: “It was impossible to predict such dominance from Arsenal through 96 minutes because it never happened in 17 years of Pep as a manager. Dominance and handbrake are two different words.”
He defended his decision not to start Eze, who came off the bench to assist Martinelli: “Could he play 90 minutes? That’s a question I put for myself. None of you know the load he can do. He’s never played as a right attacking midfielder either. So it’s easy to say, but maybe not.”
Arteta also confirmed a series of injury setbacks. Noni Madueke will miss several weeks with a knee injury, new signing Piero Hincapié is sidelined with a groin strain, and Kai Havertz faces months out with a knee problem.
With a Carabao Cup tie against Port Vale looming, Arsenal are expected to hand opportunities to teenagers Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. Dowman, at just 15, could become the youngest men’s player ever to start for the club.
