Arsenal continued their impressive run with a commanding 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night, yet manager Mikel Arteta has come under fire for being “too controlling” in his approach.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer praised Arteta’s achievements but urged him to give his players more creative freedom as the Gunners push for both domestic and European glory.
“Arsenal have bought really well, and Arteta is a fantastic manager,” McAteer told football.london, via Casino.org Ireland. “What he’s done over the last three or four seasons has been brilliant — but he’s got to stop micromanaging.”
McAteer compared Arsenal’s journey to Liverpool’s rise and fall during Manchester City’s period of dominance, suggesting that Arteta’s side are now ready to take the next step.
“It happened to Arsenal because of City, and before that, it happened to Liverpool. But I think right now, this Arsenal team is the strongest and most complete he’s ever had.”
Despite Arsenal’s 10 consecutive wins in all competitions — including five straight Premier League victories that have taken them six points clear at the top — McAteer feels Arteta’s pragmatic style may be holding the team back.
“It feels like he’s holding them back a little,” he said. “He’s a bit too pragmatic. He’s got to believe in players like Eberechi Eze and Martin Ødegaard, and trust all that creative talent to go and win games — not just sit back and defend.”
The former midfielder urged Arteta to embrace a more attacking mindset ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Sunderland this weekend:
“He needs to stop thinking about getting a 0-0 and then nicking it late. He’s got so much attacking depth — Saka, Ødegaard, Trossard, Madueke — he should just go out and win games by two, three, or four goals. Stop micromanaging and let them play.”
Published on November 6, 2025
By goalx365