Carragher asks Arteta 'what can and should he do' about Arsenal's balance
Jamie Carragher has identified a tactical shift in Mikel Arteta's Arsenal this season, and it comes with a pointed question for the manager about how far he should push it.
Arsenal have lost just once in all competitions this term, with that solitary defeat coming against Brighton in the Premier League. Since then, Arteta's side have responded with contrasting performances, an attacking turnaround win over Leeds United, a grinding 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, and a dynamic 2-1 win over Chelsea. The 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday added to the sense that Arsenal are playing with more adventure than in previous seasons.
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Carragher's column
Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Carragher said the consensus is that improving on last season's title triumph requires Arsenal to play more adventurously while finding the extra quality needed to win the Champions League. He described the Bayern Munich draw as a step in that direction, calling Arsenal's late equaliser in Munich a work of art that undermined suggestions the team cannot produce enough attacking football.
However, Carragher was not convinced Arsenal have the firepower to go all the way in Europe without reinforcements. He wrote that it is difficult to make a compelling argument Arsenal will win the Champions League without more stardust upfront, pointing to Paris Saint-Germain as the benchmark given their attacking displays against Barcelona and Manchester City. He also referenced Arsenal's pursuit of Vinicius Junior in the summer transfer window, suggesting the Real Madrid forward would be unlikely to track back at Forest in the way Arteta demands of his attackers, and described the Spaniard as tactically closer to Jose Mourinho than Arsene Wenger.
The dilemma facing Arteta
Arsenal's defensive record in the Champions League knockout stages last season, conceding just two goals en route to the final, has been held up as the manager's greatest tactical asset. That solidity has not yet delivered the trophy itself, and Carragher believes it leaves Arteta with a genuine decision to make.
