Former England international, Trevor Sinclair, says Mikel Arteta got away with poor decision making when his team lost 2-1 against Villarreal last night.
The Spanish boss made some interesting selection decisions which allowed Unai Emery’s team to start the game well and race into a 2-0 lead.
Arsenal eventually pulled one goal back from the penalty spot through Nicolas Pepe and that away goal just about keeps them in this tie.
Arteta played Granit Xhaka at left-back even though he knew the midfielder would face Samuel Chukwueze.
He also benched all his strikers and played Emile Smith Rowe as a false nine. These selections were baffling and almost led to an irrecoverable defeat for the Gunners.
Thankfully, Arsenal is still in the tie, but Sinclair says Arteta has to learn and fast because if he doesn’t, he would pay with his job when the Gunners cannot deliver under him.
Sinclair said on Talksport: “I think Arteta got it wrong, and I think he got away with it
“The fact they’re still in this tie for the second leg, they’ve got a great chance [of going through to the final].
“But they need to learn. I thought Unai Emery read the script really well.
“They were poor decisions made by Arteta and I feel he’s been found out by a much more experienced, I’m not saying better, but a much more experienced manager who has got one over him.
“If Arteta doesn’t learn, he’s going to get the sack, it’s as simple as that.”
Why would he need to learn?
Watch all of his press conferences, thr guy is completely baffled at how his amazing game plan didn’t work? His ego won’t let him see the truth.
I agree about the EGO reminds me of Peps ego and attitude towards players (if they don’t follow his instructions the team will loose)
There seems to be more and more pundits coming out with the same line and the vultures are gathering. If Arsenal dont win the EL Arteta wont survive. It looks distant at the moment but win the El and Arteta will be granted less media time, lose and it will be cranked up.
I wish Arsenal would have been own by Chelsea boss, Ibrahimovic; Arteta would have been sacks before the second legs of the season.
His styles of football isn’t enough, playing without having first team lineup for half a season is humiliating.
Arteta’s record at Arsenal is worrisome; he has never won three games in a role. What a mess!!!! How can you play a football game without a striker and also with three man’s defence.
He deserves to be sack.
Bring us an experience coach like RB Liepzig coach.
He gone to Bayern.
Who would take our job.
Allegri ideal but asked last time about budget and turned job down.
Allegri isnt for Arsenal, he is waiting for a bigger job.
@Reggie- does thar statement of yours say everything? It was not that long ago managers like Allegri would have dreamed of becoming the Arsenal Manager.
Yes Phil it does.
Kronke will not learn together with the Arsenal board. Before signing on Arteta they had a choice of coaches to buy but they don’t want to spend. Ok say Arsenal wins the Europa which i doubt they will hail him a hero. Similar to last season.
Die hard Gooner since 1970.
Gunner4life
Arteta lack ideas to the extent that he forgets to change players at the right time, imagine yesterday.
Please arsenal sack arteta,and give allgri chance to improve our team.
My question is why is he not playing Gabriel on the left instead of xhaka?
He is a natural defender and left footed.
Speaking as a fan who remains behind MA, though less than I was a few months ago, he needs to start learning much quicker. I always look at continuous evidence and when it proves me wrong, as it sometimes does in life generally- not only in football- then being a bright guy, I change my view. That is the intelligent thing to do .
As yet I intend to stay with MA but I AM GETTING CHEESED OFF, LIKE ALL OF US, WITH HIS CONSTANT SELECTION AND SHAPE MISTAKES.
IF I WER MARTINELLI, I WOULD BE GOING INTO HIS OFFICE AND ASKING WHAT HE HAS AGAINST ME AND WHY!