Jamie Carragher hits out at Mikel Arteta approach as Arsenal held by Man City

Jamie Carragher feels Mikel Arteta’s conservative approach could cost Arsenal the Premier League title and says the manager is making the same mistake repeatedly.

The Gunners drew 1-1 with Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon in a match they very nearly lost.

Erling Haaland put the visitors ahead after just nine minutes and that lead remained until the 93rd minute when substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic equaliser.

Arsenal narrowly avoided defeat but were frustrated that they did not win the game after recording over 67 per cent possession against Pep Guardiola’s team.

However, Carragher feels Arteta only has himself to blame for picking the conservative midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino in the first half.

The Spaniard changed things at half-time, throwing on Ebere Eze and Bukayo Saka for Noni Madueke and Merino, but Carragher felt he was far too cautious early on and it cost his side the game.

Metro at the Match: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City

Metro at the Match returns to bring you all the analysis from the biggest games of the season.

Here are our team’s key takeaways from Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City.

Anonymous Gyokeres again

‘Viktor Gyokeres struggled to have any sort of impact for Arsenal again, which is becoming a worrying pattern when they face a good side.

‘It remains early in the Swede’s Arsenal career but he has been concerningly anonymous in the majority of games he has played so far.

‘Goals have come at home against Leeds and Nottingham Forest, but he has been completely forgettable against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Athletic Club and now Manchester City.

‘Gyokeres may well end the season with decent numbers if he continues to be a flat track bully, but will he win Arsenal the Premier League? Probably not.’ Phil Haigh – sports reporter.

Arteta gets midfield selection all wrong

‘Given the criticism Mikel Arteta faced for his midfield selection in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool this season, it was a shock to see him go with the same trio at home to Manchester City.

‘Arsenal were far too negative in that match at Anfield and it was the same problem in the first-half against City as Arteta named Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in his XI.

‘The Gunners were lacking in the creative department, especially with Martin Odegaard out injured and Bukayo Saka deemed not fit enough to start.

‘Eberechi Eze was dropped to the bench – a decision which baffled the pundits – and Arteta was surely aware of his error as he decided to bring on Eze and Saka for Merino and Noni Madueke at the break.

‘That’s twice this season Arteta has got his selection wrong in big games this season and he must learn from this mistake.’ Liam Grace – sports reporter.

Haaland wins this round with arch rival Gabriel

‘This was the latest battle in the ongoing war between Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhães and it was a clear win for the giant Norwegian.

‘Haaland left Gabriel in his wake as he sprinted beyond the Arsenal defence to score the opener, calmly finishing to put his team ahead.

‘The Brazilian was made to look slow, which he isn’t, but the Manchester City superstar looks like a powerful race horse when he gets going and he wasn’t going to be caught.

‘The rivalry was sparked when Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head after a Manchester City equaliser in September last year, with the Arsenal man gaining revenge by screaming in the Norwegian’s face during the Gunners’ rampant 5-1 win in February.’ Phil Haigh – sports reporter.

No doubt Haaland has regained the upper hand.

‘I think they wasted 45 minutes,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports.

‘Mikel Arteta has got a team and squad that are that close to being really, really special in terms of winning a Premier League and maybe even a Champions League, I think they’re that good. But time after time when it comes to these big games he picks a team that feels like he’s thinking more about the opposition.

‘That doesn’t mean you can’t win the Premier League. Jose Mourinho won the Premier League three times and he was a little bit like that.

‘But for me that was a waste for 45 minutes and the reason I’m saying that is because I played for managers who did that at Liverpool.

‘We were really close, we were a top team but we never won the Premier League. I always felt at times under Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez maybe we had the handbrake on now and again in certain games.

‘That is what Mikel Arteta is doing. Liverpool were there for the taking in that second half at Anfield. Man City were there for the taking at the start of this game and he’s allowed them to come into the game.

‘It’s just a recurring pattern, season after season and if you’re Mikel Arteta or an Arsenal supporter you’ve just got to hope that doesn’t cost you at the end of the season because they are a brilliant team.’

Arsenal have now fallen five points behind league-leaders Liverpool, who have won all of their matches so far this season.

Arteta said he was pleased with his team’s performance and felt they deserved all three points.

‘Regardless of the result I will say the same thing. I am extremely proud of the team and the players for the way we played and dominated this game against this Man City,’ he told the BBC. ‘From my side as a coach that requires compliments from my side as a coach.

‘After that, very disappointed with the result. It is true that scoring at the end gives you a bit of emotion, a bit of a taste, but then I think the first thought for me was to win the game.

‘Everybody will analyse the game in a different way. I think we did a lot of very good things very, very well in order to get the game to that state. From obviously every coach has to do the best thing to win the game.’