Arsenal had another dramatic weekend at Anfield as they battled to a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and ex-Manchester United star Peter Schmeichel had some scathing words about Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta
Peter Schmeichel has savaged Mikel Arteta(Image: Getty Images)
Peter Schmeichel has claimed Mikel Arteta’s ‘control freak’ methods could be making Arsenal WORSE. The Gunners are seeing out the final few games of what has been another trophyless season under the Spanish coach.
The former midfielder lifted the FA Cup during his debut campaign but has failed to claim any more silverware since. To Arteta’s credit, they have been close on occasion.
Arsenal have pushed both Liverpool and Manchester City over recent seasons, while they reached the Champions League semi-finals this term. But former Manchester United goalkeeper Schmeichel reckons Arteta’s methods could actually be doing more damage than good.
Speaking on ViaPlay, he said: “It’s all on Arteta, all. What I’m saying is, he was employed as head coach. He inherited the team and that team is the only team that he has won a trophy with.
“Then it’s his own team and then in the process, he’s now changed the job description so he’s now the manager. Everything is on him. It’s not recruitment, it’s not the board.
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“Whenever they [fans] get the opportunity today, watch him in the technical area. Arteta is a control freak, he wants his players to play the ball that he wants. He’s directing everything.
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“You look across to Arne Slot who’s so calm. He’s instructed his players in training, instructed the players in the team talk. Arteta is still playing the game for the players and that would confuse the hell out of me as a football player that you had a coach that wants to direct me for everything I do. It would confuse me and make me a worse player.”
Schmeichel is not the only one who has commented on Arteta’s position. Ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has noticed a change in demeanour from the Arsenal boss, believing he is now potentially looking for excuses behind the club’s failure to win a trophy.
"He's driving high standards but what really stood out in the interview, and in the last couple of weeks in his press conferences, is that he's getting emotional and at times he's sounding a little bit like a fan, not the manager,” the Sky Sports pundit said.
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to another trophyless season
(Image: Getty Images)
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"He was really strong on how many players they've had sent off this season. He's putting his hands up saying six. I think he's convinced inside that they have been victims in some ways, with the sendings off and injuries they have had.
"I think deep down he thinks they could have won the league without this and that. There's no doubt they would be a lot closer but the sendings-off are down to you. They weren't all sendings-off, but that can happen in a season.
"The injuries have hit them this season but they also played for them last season. What they have done in terms of competing Man City in the last two seasons is fantastic but a lot of that was down to having the same eight or nine players week in, week out, and him never rotating."
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