Arteta dismisses Arsenal style critics as a 'very small minority'

Credit: Getty Images

Mikel Arteta has pushed back on suggestions that Arsenal's style of play has become a problem this season, insisting criticism is coming from only a “very small minority” of observers.

Arsenal have won 10 of their 11 games in all competitions this season, but goals have been harder to come by than last term. Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest needed an 80th minute strike from substitute Noni Madueke to break the deadlock, and it was only Arsenal's 11th goal in seven Premier League games so far this campaign.

The contrast with last season is notable. Arsenal won the Premier League title while conceding the fewest goals in the division and scoring more from set pieces than any other side. This season, they are yet to score from a set piece in any competition.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, Arteta rejected the idea that the team's approach has become a talking point for the wrong reasons.

Arteta points to the numbers

“I don't have that impression because I heard that the style was incredible. We have scored so many goals, we have more possession, more shots, different players participating, no goals on set pieces,” Arteta said.

“So the story is completely different to last year. I think we are talking about a very small minority [criticising the team]. I think the other ones, they know. I think they have enjoyed a lot the way we have played and dominated games this year. And I think we have proven that.”

Arteta did acknowledge that facing teams who sit in a low block presents a different challenge to breaking down a high press, and conceded there is room for improvement in that department.

“The low block demands a different kind of game to the high block. A team that is constantly putting the ball in the last line. It's different,” he said. “Still, I think on Sunday, we could have done things better. And that's in our hands. And we need to recognise that openly as well.”

Raya backs the record

Goalkeeper David Raya echoed his manager's sentiment, suggesting the players are not bothered by outside scrutiny given Arsenal's results this season.

“People have their own opinions. We have our own opinion. At the end of the day, we have lost one game in 11 this season and if you call that boring or irritating, I don't know what to say,” Raya said. “We enjoy playing football. We enjoy going out there every single day to win football matches, and that's the most important thing.”

Arsenal will look to address the lack of cutting edge against deep defences when they travel to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, a fixture that offers a very different tactical test to the one Forest posed at the weekend.