Collomosse labels Arsenal 'Mikel Arteta's Unwatchables' after Forest win

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Arsenal left the City Ground with three points and a familiar complaint trailing behind them. The 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest extended Arteta's unbeaten record against the club, but it was secured with just one shot on target, prompting fresh scrutiny of the team's attacking approach.

Journalist Tom Collomosse did not hold back in his assessment. Writing in the Daily Mail, he drew a pointed comparison between Arsenal's current side and the club's most celebrated era under Arsene Wenger.

“Sadly, where once we had Arsene Wenger's Invincibles, we now endure Mikel Arteta's Unwatchables,” Collomosse wrote. “One shot on target, one goal, three points. For the second time this season, there were no through balls. That's what you get for your £600million starting XI, folks.”

A recurring theme in Arteta's reign

Arteta spent three seasons working as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City before taking charge at the Emirates in 2019, and many expected his Arsenal sides to eventually mirror City's possession heavy, attack minded identity. Instead, questions about creativity and end product have followed the team even during productive runs of results.

The win over Forest fits a pattern Collomosse highlighted: Arsenal grinding out a result without carving the opposition open. The absence of a single through ball for the second time this season is the kind of detail that feeds directly into arguments about the team lacking incision in the final third, even as the points keep coming.

Arsenal's squad has been heavily backed in the transfer market in recent years, and Collomosse's reference to a “£600million starting XI” is a reminder that fans and pundits alike expect attacking football to match that investment, not just functional victories.

Results versus spectacle

None of this changes the table. Three points against Forest keep Arsenal competitive regardless of how they were achieved, and Arteta has shown throughout his time at the club that he values outcomes over aesthetics. Ugly wins have been a hallmark of several of his most successful campaigns.

Still, the criticism points to a broader debate among supporters and observers about what kind of identity this Arsenal team is building. Wenger's best sides are remembered for flowing, attacking football that captivated neutrals as much as it delighted the Emirates faithful. Arteta's teams, by contrast, are increasingly defined by control, discipline and efficiency, even when that means limited chances created.

Whether that trade off continues to draw criticism will likely depend on results as much as performances. For now, Arsenal remain unbeaten against Forest and picking up points, even if the manner leaves pundits like Collomosse unconvinced.