Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City sparked a fresh wave of criticism for Mikel Arteta’s conservative game management, with former Manchester United captain Gary Neville suggesting the Gunners boss admitted his mistake through decisive halftime substitutions. The result leaves Arsenal five points behind league leaders Liverpool and raises renewed concerns over Arteta’s approach in big matches.
Arteta’s Game Plan Questioned After City Draw
Arsenal fell behind early at the Emirates as Erling Haaland capitalized in the ninth minute to give Manchester City a 1-0 lead. Pep Guardiola then adopted a surprisingly defensive posture to protect the advantage. However, the Gunners salvaged a point thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s dramatic 93rd-minute equalizer.
While the result might seem respectable on paper, Arsenal’s approach — particularly in the first half — drew scrutiny. Arteta’s lineup decisions, including starting Mikel Merino over creative spark Eberechi Eze and benching Bukayo Saka due to his recent hamstring injury, were met with skepticism even before kickoff.
Substitutions Signal Regret, Says Neville
According to Gary Neville, Arteta’s decision to introduce both Eze and Saka at halftime indicated the manager realized his initial strategy had failed.
“When you make two major changes at halftime, especially in a high-stakes match, it’s an admission that your original plan wasn’t working,” Neville told Sky Sports. “It was the same situation at Anfield earlier this season — it feels like Arsenal are waiting to go behind before making attacking moves. That’s reactive, not proactive.”
Neville emphasized that waiting until Arsenal were trailing before making offensive adjustments sends the wrong message to the squad. “It tells your players you didn’t believe they could win it from the start,” he added.
Concerns Over Arteta’s Mentality in Big Games
This isn’t the first time Arteta has been labeled overly cautious in key fixtures. His setup against Liverpool on August 31 also drew criticism for being too defensive. Despite Merino’s solid scoring record in 2025, many felt his inclusion over the more dynamic Eze was a step backward — a sentiment echoed after the City match.
Jamie Carragher also voiced concerns, stating Arsenal “wasted 45 minutes” before injecting creativity into their play. Neville agreed, questioning why a more aggressive lineup wasn’t deployed from the outset, especially with the team chasing Liverpool in the title race.
Neville: Arsenal Must “Take the Handbrake Off”
Neville concluded his analysis with a challenge to Arsenal and their manager. “This team has quality — I enjoy watching them — but until they start sending the message that they’re out to win from the first whistle, I’ll keep having doubts,” he said. “At 0-0, that’s when you go for it. That’s when you show belief in your players.”
With the Premier League title race heating up and Liverpool pulling away, Arsenal’s cautious tactics in big games could become a recurring issue unless Arteta adjusts his approach.
