Mikel Arteta hits back at critics following Arsenal’s Premier League draw against Manchester City – ‘Never happened in 17 years of Pep’

Following the game, Arteta came under fire for being overcautious after starting a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, who was likely included in place of the injured Martin Odegaard.

The Spaniard also left new signing Eberechi Eze on the bench and opted for Leandro Trossard on the left of striker Viktor Gyokeres, with Noni Madueke to the right.

“I would be extremely surprised,” Arteta said when asked if he had read any of the backlash.

“With my knowledge, know-how and how I analyse a football game, it was impossible for me to predict such dominance from Arsenal for 96 minutes. It has never happened in 17 years of Pep as a manager.

“How can you be dominant against such a team with a handbrake? Dominance and handbrake – they are two different words. But I accept everything.

“I was just surprised by it. When I saw everything and watching it back with all the stats, I was surprised.

“I respect everyone’s opinion. If I can see and learn something that I haven’t seen, more than happy to do so. That’s never an issue.”

“I don’t think one player makes that when you see the behaviour of our team,” Arteta said on his decision not to start Eze.

“If you are going to define that with one player playing in that position, I understand collective sport in a very different way.

“We played Ebs (Eze) on the right-hand side. Could he play 90 minutes? That’s a question I put for myself because none of you know the load that he can do.

“It’s easy to say he could have played at the start, but maybe not. Because he’s already played two games from the start and he’s never played as a right-hand side attacking midfielder. That’s another one, a new element for him. All good.”