[ad_1]
Martin Keown has accused Mikel Arteta of abandoning Arsenal’s attacking football that he played with Arsene Wenger for a more pragmatic approach to the game.
The Gunners have been fighting for goals in the Premier League for some time and their attacking style has been questioned.
Before Arteta became the club’s manager, Arsenal’s biggest problem was in their defense.
The Spaniard helped them fix their leaky defense, but it’s not just defenders tasked with keeping opposition at bay under their system.
The team is pushing from the front and they have also become a bit more cautious when attacking.
Keown says the Gunners have abandoned the free-flowing attacking football they were known for under Wenger for a more confident approach that sees them pass the ball back too often.
“I think the brand of Arsenal football is changing,” the former Gunners defender told BT Sport as quoted by Goal.com.
“When you think of 22 years under Arsene Wenger, so much creativity, expression, the manager’s conviction that anything was possible.
“Here we are with a new manager, one that I think will be outstanding. But maybe there is too much instruction.
“Players going backwards, under Arsene Wenger, no, no, that ball has to go forward. Arteta played very well with Wenger, so he will know.
“I think he wants them to express themselves and play, but I think that comes with confidence and you stop with the information and trust the individual to create the work.
“Maybe it’s just a little bit of balance. He’s still a young coach, but he’s already very successful, it’s still early, but at the moment, he doesn’t have the right balance between attacking and defending.
Arsenal have won the FA Cup and Community Shield in the short time Arteta has been their coach and most fans won’t mind football if the trophies keep coming.
