{"id":1366980,"date":"2024-10-28T12:13:57","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T12:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1366980"},"modified":"2024-10-28T11:43:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T11:43:15","slug":"mikel-arteta-arsenal-new-mourinho","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/mikel-arteta-arsenal-new-mourinho\/","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta the new Mourinho? Arsenal manager turning to pragmatism as the going gets tough"},"content":{"rendered":"

From a league-high three red cards to a host of injuries, it’s fair to say Arsenal<\/a> boss Mikel Arteta has had a lot to deal with this season.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Gunners have seen a man sent off in games against Brighton<\/a>, Manchester City<\/a> and Bournemouth<\/a> this season. They managed to take two points from the former two but lost 2-0 in the latter, ending their unbeaten start to the season.<\/p>\n

In each match, Arteta has employed remarkably defensive tactics in order to keep the back door shut and try to hang on for a result. Against City, their performance was commendable and they were only denied the win by a 97th-minute John Stones strike.<\/p>\n

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However, against Brighton and Bournemouth, you could argue that Arsenal, as big favourites, should still have gone for the kill. That’s probably what Man City or Liverpool would have done, after all.<\/p>\n

But perhaps the most frustrating part of their season so far came in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n

As the home team, Arsenal rightfully took the game to their title rivals in the first half and went in at the break 2-1 ahead thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, either side of a Virgil van Dijk header. The Gunners outshot Arne Slot’s men 6-3 in the opening 45 minutes, controlling 52% possession and enjoying 15 touches in the opposition box to Liverpool’s 11.<\/p>\n