Mikel Arteta's tactical approach in Arsenal's recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City has come under scrutiny, with suggestions that he may have overthought his game plan and afforded Pep Guardiola's side too much respect. The Gunners, who ultimately salvaged a point through a late Gabriel Martinelli equaliser, appeared to lack attacking impetus for significant portions of the match, particularly in the first half.
Arsenal started the game with a cautious midfield selection, pairing Mikel Merino alongside Declan Rice, with Martin Zubimendi sitting just behind them. This setup, while providing defensive stability, seemed to stifle Arsenal's creativity and forward momentum. Arteta defended his team selection, arguing that it included "a lot of attacking players" and that the team "completely dominated" the early stages of the game. However, the statistics paint a different picture, with Arsenal struggling to create clear-cut chances and registering only one shot on target in the first half.
Critics have pointed out that Arteta's initial lineup was too conservative, especially with players like Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka starting on the bench. The absence of Saka, in particular, was felt on the right flank, where Arsenal lacked their usual dynamism and directness. Noni Madueke, while being Arsenal's brightest performer in the first half, was sacrificed at half-time for Saka. The introduction of Eze and Saka at half-time did inject more energy and invention into Arsenal's attack. Eze played a crucial role in the equalizing goal, delivering a fine pass over the top for Martinelli, who finished with a superb lob.
Despite Arsenal's improved second-half performance, questions remain about Arteta's initial tactical setup. Some argue that he was too concerned with nullifying Manchester City's strengths, rather than focusing on exploiting their weaknesses. This cautious approach may have stemmed from a desire to avoid a repeat of previous encounters, where Arsenal had been outplayed by Guardiola's team. However, by prioritizing defensive solidity over attacking intent, Arteta may have inadvertently played into Manchester City's hands.
Pep Guardiola himself acknowledged that Arsenal's quality forced Manchester City to deploy an ultra-defensive setup, often referred to as "Haramball". City, who opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Erling Haaland, appeared content to sit back and defend their lead, relying on counter-attacks. Guardiola admitted that his team struggled to press Arsenal effectively and had to resort to attacking via transitions, which is "not the way we like to play". Manchester City had only 33% possession in the game, the lowest ever recorded by a Pep Guardiola team in a league game.
Ultimately, Arsenal's late equaliser salvaged a point and prevented a defeat that would have further dented their title aspirations. However, the match highlighted the ongoing tactical battle between Arteta and Guardiola, with the former often accused of being too reactive and deferential to his former mentor. While Arteta has shown glimpses of tactical innovation and adaptability, he needs to strike a better balance between defensive pragmatism and attacking ambition if Arsenal are to consistently challenge for major honours. The Gunners' late surge and Martinelli's moment of brilliance may have papered over some cracks, but the underlying tactical questions remain.
