Frank Christian
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has expressed his annoyance regarding accusations that his team employs ‘dark arts’ to achieve victories this season.
The Gunners’ head coach rejected the notion that his players are on the verge of breaking rules to gain an edge.
This controversy arose following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City last month, which was marked by time-wasting tactics, ultimately leading to a last-minute equalizer that thwarted Arteta’s defensive game plan.
Despite the scrutiny on his strategy, Arteta’s side managed a solid 3-1 victory over struggling Southampton over the weekend.
Attentive supporters at the Emirates Stadium noticed Arteta busily taking notes on the sidelines, revealing his strategic insights.
Insights from Arteta’s Notepad Against Southampton
According to the Daily Mail, Arteta’s notes targeted former Arsenal player Aaron Ramsdale as a potential vulnerability in Southampton’s defense.
Ramsdale moved to Southampton in August after losing his position as the first-choice keeper to David Raya, and he conceded three goals upon his return to his former club.
One side of Arteta’s notepad outlined his team’s formation, while the opposite side highlighted ‘Force AR 6 yard,’ indicating a strategy related to Ramsdale.
This note likely suggests a plan to compel Ramsdale into playing out from his six-yard box, a tactic he executed with mixed outcomes against his old team.
Other notes like ‘Force our…’ and ‘Avoid switch’ remain somewhat ambiguous, though the latter shows concern about long-distance passes from fullbacks switching sides of the field.
With this latest win, Arsenal enters October undefeated in the Premier League, causing fans to largely overlook the criticisms of Arteta’s tactics as they look forward to facing Bournemouth on October 19.
