Picture credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs & Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs
Jamie Carragher has accused Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta of ‘morphing right into a Jose Mourinho sort of supervisor’.
Carragher’s feedback got here after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
The Gunners twice took the lead within the first half on the Emirates Stadium, with Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino scoring both facet of Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser.
Nonetheless, Arsenal took their foot off the gasoline within the second half, permitting Liverpool to push them additional and additional again.
Finally, the strain proved an excessive amount of, with Mohamed Salah netting within the 81st minute to grab a degree for Arne Slot’s males.
Is Mikel Arteta ‘morphing’ into Jose Mourinho?
After the match, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane questioned the ‘mentality’ of Arsenal’s gamers.
However Carragher has positioned the blame on Arteta, who he believes is shifting away from being a Pep Guardiola clone and shifting towards a extra pragmatic, Mourinho-esque model.
“As a result of Mikel Arteta labored with Pep Guardiola, we’re virtually pondering this a Pep Guardiola disciple,” Carragher informed Sky Sports activities.
“For those who take a look at the 2 most profitable managers of the final 10 or 15 years, you’ve received Pep Guardiola right here with a sure model of soccer, and also you’ve received Jose Mourinho, virtually equally as profitable on the different finish.
“Mikel Arteta is slowly morphing right into a Jose Mourinho sort of supervisor and no one actually thought that might occur. I simply suppose it’s actually fascinating how he’s received there.”
Additional explaining his speculation, Carragher continued: “You see immediately, 2-1 up, urgent Liverpool, on high of Liverpool, enjoying rather well. Then they retreat within the second half.
“Now, I do know that they had a few accidents on the again, however they’ve nonetheless received the midfielders enjoying, nonetheless received their attacking gamers enjoying, who you suppose ‘are you able to get on the ball, are you able to attempt to take the sting out of the strain you’re below?’
“That’s come from the supervisor, nevertheless it occurs too typically now.
“You see it once they have 10 males. I get what occurred at Metropolis, I believed what they did at Metropolis was sensible. However what they did in opposition to Brighton, what they had been doing in opposition to Bournemouth final week. Prime groups I’ve seen earlier than with 10 males — I am going again to my very own expertise as effectively — yeah, you’re below strain, however you relieve it. You retain the ball a bit extra, you’re nonetheless a menace going ahead.”