Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has launched a passionate defence of his side’s performance in the 1–1 draw against Manchester City, dismissing criticism of his tactics and team selection while insisting the Gunners delivered a display that shocked football’s elite, MySportDab Reports.
The Emirates clash saw Arsenal trail early to Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute strike, before Gabriel Martinelli salvaged a point with a stoppage-time lob.
Many supporters and pundits accused Arteta of adopting an overly cautious approach, pointing to his conservative midfield trio of Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi and Declan Rice.
However, the Spaniard claimed the view inside football circles was starkly different. “I heard a lot of things using my phone, they could not believe what we did to Manchester City,” Arteta said. “People who are coaches, managers, CEOs, presidents.”
Indeed, Arsenal restricted City to just 33% possession—the lowest figure recorded in Pep Guardiola’s 17-year managerial career. Arteta highlighted this as evidence of his team’s dominance.
“With my knowledge and how I analyse a football game, it was impossible for anybody to predict such dominance from Arsenal,” he told reporters ahead of the trip to Port Vale. “How can you be dominant against such a team if you have a handbrake? Dominance and handbrake are two different words.”
Arteta also bristled at criticism of his lineup, particularly the omission of Eberechi Eze from the starting XI. “Could he play 90 minutes? That’s a question I put to myself because none of you know the load that he can do,” he explained. “It’s easy to say he should have started, maybe not. Football is a collective sport, not about one player.”
Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league and will look to build on their momentum at Port Vale.
