The Arsenal legend has criticized one of Mikel Arteta’s tactics this season.
The Arsenal legend has criticized one aspect of Mikel Arteta’s tactics this season.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has criticized Mikel Arteta’s defensive tactics this season and called for change.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has expressed his concerns about the Gunners’ current style of play and has called on manager Mikel Arteta to bring back the team’s “exciting” attacking approach.
Despite sitting third in the Premier League table and five points adrift of leaders Manchester City, Arsenal’s recent performances have sparked controversy, with some fans and pundits suggesting the team are too cautious with their tactics.
The Gunners have leaned defensively this season and have seen goals scored in the dying minutes of some of their best matches, including 2-2 draws with Manchester City and Liverpool after taking first-half leads.
A similar pattern in the 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth after William Saliba’s red card prompted Merson to warn Arteta not to rely too much on this strategy. “Arsenal are way behind in the game at the moment,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
“I know we are missing key players due to injuries, but we should have attacked more against Liverpool last weekend. The draw was fair, but Arsenal were not as free as before. That was the problem.
“The old Arsenal was fun. If you do that every week in this race, you’ll catch up fast.”
Ahead of key games, including away to Newcastle and Chelsea, Merson believes the Gunners need to rediscover their attacking prowess.
“After the trip to Newcastle, we play Chelsea. These two games are very important for the Gunners. “We must find a way to defeat them both!” He added:
Arsenal travel to St James’ Park on Saturday with some key players injured, including several defenders and captain Martin Odegaard. His absence has weakened the team’s creativity.
Despite these difficulties, Merson remains upbeat and expects his former side to secure a 2-1 win over Newcastle.
“It’s a very important game for Arsenal. “It’s one of those places where you think Arsenal have to win,” he said.
Arsenal will make no mistake this weekend with Manchester City beating Bournemouth and Liverpool taking on Brighton. Newcastle recently beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup but Merson believes the Magpies will struggle to repeat that success in the league against Arsenal.
“Newcastle are so open at the back that good teams can pick them apart. They are a real team when they are in good form, but not now. “Arsenal have to win!”
