Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has sharply criticized Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s team selections and tactics, suggesting that some players at the Emirates might have been frustrated by the decisions. This latest critique came in the aftermath of Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City in the English Premier League, where Neville questioned Arteta’s cautious approach.
Speaking on his podcast, Neville highlighted Arteta’s choice to bench key attacking players like Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli in favor of Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino, describing the selections as overly conservative. Neville argued that such decisions send a worrying signal to the dressing room, implying that the team is holding back rather than playing with ambition. “I guarantee you that dressing room straight away will look at him thinking: ‘You’ve done the same again… you could’ve been more attacking and you weren’t,’” Neville stated.
This criticism comes amid a broader debate among pundits and fans over Arteta’s tactical approach in big matches, with accusations that he sometimes plays with a “handbrake” on, prioritizing safety over risk-taking. However, Arteta has defended his choices, pointing to the injury of key midfielder Martin Ødegaard and the form of players like Martinelli coming off the bench as reasons for his selection decisions. He also cited Arsenal’s strong defensive performance against City, noting the limited possession and shots the champions managed.
Despite the differing views, Neville’s remarks highlight ongoing pressure on Arteta to balance pragmatism with attacking flair as Arsenal pursue their Premier League ambitions. The former England international’s comments will likely reignite discussions about the best ways for Arsenal to sustain their competitive edge and manage their squad effectively throughout a demanding season.
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