Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s defensive approach during their match against Manchester City, particularly after they went a man down.
The Gunners had to execute a defensive masterclass in the second half after Leandro Trossard was sent off just before halftime.
Arsenal has proven to be a challenging opponent for City in recent encounters, remaining unbeaten against the defending champions in the league last season.
Leading up to the match, Arsenal boasted an impressive away record in the league for 2024, built on solid defensive performances.
In the second half, they demonstrated their defensive resilience and nearly came away with all three points.
But critics have slammed them for being too defensive despite their disadvantage. Arteta has responded and said, as quoted by the Daily Mail:
‘Well, we had to play the game that we had to play.
‘The first 10, 15 minutes, we couldn’t with 11 vs 11. Then we got much better. Then we were thrown in a very different context and did what every team does.
‘They played 30 seconds with 10 men. Look what they did for 30 seconds. It’s normal what they did. We had to do it in a different way.’
Just Arsenal Opinion
We had to play defensively well in the second half of that game and it is ridiculous that anyone would expect us to remain open when we have a major disadvantage on the pitch in that game.
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
He could have left someone higher up the pitch to help relieve pressure and potentially get something on the counter – even a corner, which we know is a dangerous situation for us. It’s difficult to criticise, though, because arteta’s approach largely worked – I thought we were going to hold on. He backed his players to play that defensive game and they did it brilliantly. Shows the players are fully with him.
Psychologically it’s good as well because city know they were very close to losing a game where they’d played against 10 men for over half of it. Who knows really, but they’ve got to wonder what would have happened if we’d retained 11.
I agree with a lot you say but, surely, if there is any negative psychological effect, it’s likely to be greater in not holding on for just one minute more (and losing out on two additional points) rather than gaining something (a point) that was all but lost with only that minute left.
That said, I don’t think it’s going to make a jot of difference either way. Both Pep and Arteta know that the 33 games left will determine the title’s destination by May, not a wet Sunday in September.
👍 good points
People criticizing Arsenal for the way they played with the ten men against City make me laugh. What did they expect, Arsenal’s 10 to go toe to toe with City’s 11.
Get real people.
Also regarding a teams defensive tactic’s or whatever it may be, it’s down to the other team to find away past the other team’s tactic’s, and if they can’t manage it on the day so be it.
And stop bleating on about the dark art’s of the game as it’s called. Name me a team that doesn’t employ the dark arts in a game, and I’ll show you a liar.
Until the power’s that be make a change to the time keeping of games, all these time wasting antics will go on.
Don’t get me wrong, I to don’t like the time wasting that goes on, because at the end of the day, the fans are being short changed. How many fans pay their hard earned money to go and watch what lets face it is cheating.
And the people being cheated most is the paying fan.
Anyone else agree.
Perfect comment, I agree with your opinions. Everyone would defend when down a man, quite dishonest to suggest any club would play open football down a man to City at the Etihad.
As for time wasting, there is a simple solution.
A time keeper independent of the ref. Stops time when play stops, and restarts when the ball is in play.
It’s fair, hard for clubs to complain, and no “subjective” extra time arguments.