Arsenal salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time strike, but the result left many Gunners supporters frustrated with Mikel Arteta’s approach to the game.
The clash between two Premier League title contenders lived up to its billing, with both sides carrying the intensity of midweek Champions League fixtures. Arsenal entered the game fresher, having enjoyed two extra days of rest, and were tipped to edge the contest.
However, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who looked in control for much of the evening. Erling Haaland opened the scoring with his sixth goal of the campaign, while Gianluigi Donnarumma impressed once again, marshalling his area to preserve City’s lead. City appeared set for a third straight clean-sheet win in all competitions following their victories over Manchester United and Napoli.
Arsenal struggled to break City down and found themselves short of ideas in the final third. Yet, deep into stoppage time, substitute Eberechi Eze delivered a pinpoint cross that found Martinelli, who rifled home a dramatic equaliser to deny Guardiola’s men all three points.
While the late strike provided relief inside the Emirates, fans quickly took to social media to vent their frustrations over Mikel Arteta’s decisions as garnerd by Softfootball below.
Among the many reactions after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, some supporters turned their frustration toward Mikel Arteta’s team selection. Many felt the Gunners missed an opportunity to secure all three points at home, with criticism aimed at his reliance on certain players. @Khaytweets wrote:
Arteta this is on you! We don’t understand your love for Merino! This was supposed to be a smooth win for us. Settling for a draw at Emirates is not welcomed!
One supporter, @realiambarcaman questioned the manager’s selections, writing:
I honestly don’t know why Arteta didn’t start Martinelli in this game. Look what he did.
Another, @BB88888888888BB was more scathing of his view about Arteta selection, he commented:
Not starting Eze, giving Trossard majority of the game when he’s better as a sub 90% of the time. Arteta’s bottled it again. No creativity, no ambition. Setting up scared against the big 4 is why we look beaten before kick-off. I’d rather lose trying to win than sit through this defensive rubbish. He’s fully to blame.
@EniolaAdewuni felt the Gunners should have been set up to win rather than chase the game. his own criticism was directed at Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach, with him arguing that the Spaniards reliance on a defensive midfield trio limited Arsenal’s attacking creativity. He commented:
Arteta set us up to lose this match. Look at how much impact we had when Saka and Eze came on. We can’t keep playing with 3 DMs. It stifles us creatively. Loved Gyokeres hustle. We need to get the ball to him more. Throw those crosses in. Help the man.
@TheGunnersD3n believe the Gunners boss tendency toward cautious, pragmatic football is holding the team back, especially given the quality of players at his disposal. He commented:
There’s no defending Arteta on this one, glad to come out with a point but this conservative pragmatic football will cost us dearly. He’s been backed with good players, start playing expressive football and stop being negative. The two games we’ve dropped points so far this season has been on Arteta and he’s testing everyone patience.
Another recurring theme in the aftermath of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with City was the lack of creativity in midfield, particularly in the opening stages. @TheGunner_1 pointed to Mikel Arteta’s decision to leave Eberechi Eze on the bench as a missed opportunity to seize control of the game early on. He wrote:
Eze should just have started in the midfield, we lacked that creativity from the midfield so much in the first half. Mikel really should have known better.
@HasanZahid24 Also questioned Arteta’s team selection and the squad performance in the first half. His sentiment reflects a wider frustration that Arsenal’s cautious approach and sluggish start may cost them vital points in their pursuit the Premier League title. He summed up the mood, saying:
Arteta’s team selection was questionable, and that first-half performance was well below standard. Dropping two points at home like that is unacceptable; Arsenal should have had all three.
Despite the disappointment, Arsenal remain firmly in the title race, but the draw has reignited debate over whether Arteta’s cautious tactics are holding the Gunners back in the biggest games.
Man City head to Huddersfield Town for a League Cup third round tie on Wednesday, then host Burnley on Saturday. While, Arsenal go to Port Vale on Wednesday in the League Cup, then head up north for a test at Newcastle United on Sunday.
