Mikel Arteta hits back at criticism and speaks out on Viktor Gyokeres form

Did Mikel Arteta get it right against Manchester City? (Picture: Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has fired back at criticism over his team selection in Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City and defended Viktor Gyokeres after another underwhelming outing for the striker.

The match finished 1-1 at the Emirates , with Erling Haaland putting the visitors ahead after just nine minutes and looking like he had won the game for his team.

However, substitute Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point for the Gunners as he raced onto a fantastic long ball from Eberechi Eze to impressively lift the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma for a 93rd minute equaliser.

Arsenal had the vast majority of possession , but didn’t create a great deal of chances with it, especially in the first half when the home fans were getting quite frustrated with how blunt Arteta’s team were.

His midfield three of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, without a more attacking number 10, were arguably the problem and Arteta seemed to accept that by replacing Merino with Eze at half-time.

However, when asked if that was an admission that he got his team selection wrong, the Arsenal boss was not so sure.

‘Too easy to say that,’ he told a post-match press conference. ‘I think it’s very clear what we wanted to do, very well we started the game. I think we completely dominated.

Mikel Merino was replaced at half-time (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I think after they scored the goal without doing absolutely nothing before that, we went a bit shaky for 5-10 minutes and after that we got a grip again and started to dominate and I think the second half was a continuation of that with one different player and then with two or three different players.’

Arteta was pushed on whether he was too conservative with his starting XI, saying: ‘I leave that to you. For me, there’s a lot of attacking players in that team.’

The trio in midfield is partly in place because Martin Odegaard is out injured with a shoulder problem and the same three started in the 2-0 win at Athletic Club in the Champions League last week.

Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point for Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

The Gunners boss pointed out that he received no questioning on that team selection even though it was the same.

‘I thought it was the best one to start the game,’ he said of his midfield.

‘Nobody asked me about the midfield three in Bilbao, nobody, it’s the same midfield. I believed it was the best thing for the team.’

Jamie Carragher was one of the critics of Arteta’s approach to the game , saying the manager is too concerned about the opposition and not enough about imposing his own team’s qualities on the game.

‘I think they wasted 45 minutes,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports.

‘Mikel Arteta has got a team and squad that are that close to being really, really special in terms of winning a Premier League and maybe even a Champions League, I think they’re that good. But time after time when it comes to these big games he picks a team that feels like he’s thinking more about the opposition.

Viktor Gyokeres couldn’t make an impact against Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images)

Throughout the match Arsenal struggled to get their centre forward involved in the contest, with Gyokeres remaining pretty anonymous throughout.

The summer signing from Sporting has scored three goals in five Premier League outings so it has not been a disastrous start, but has also been very underwhelming against the stronger opposition he has faced.

Gyokeres was not missing chances against Manchester City, he just didn’t have any, and Arteta admitted that his team need to do more to get the ball to their striker.

Viktor Gyokeres had another frustrating afternoon for Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

Mikel Merino lasted just 45 minutes (Picture: Getty Images)

Erling Haaland and Gabriel scrapped it out once again (Picture: Getty Images)