Mikel Arteta: Criticism of Arsenal Reflects Raised Expectations

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta chose not to address the recent criticism of his team's mentality from pundits directly. However, he hinted that the heightened expectations surrounding the Gunners may be a contributing factor.

Following their 2-2 draw against champions Manchester City last weekend, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane suggested Arteta’s team had a “small club mentality” due to how they approached the matches against City and previously Brighton & Hove Albion.

Former Liverpool star and manager Graeme Souness, meanwhile, suggested that Arsenal have an “inferiority complex”.

Speaking a day before his side’s home clash against promoted Leicester City on Sept 28, Arteta: “I heard a lot of positive things. When we hear negative criticism after where we are, what we’ve been through in the last three games, that tells you the expectations. We have to raise the levels, that’s it.

“I want a result against Leicester because I want to play well, win and get three points. To make our people proud, not to silence anyone.”

Arteta added that it was too soon to say if goalkeeper David Raya would be fit for the clash at the Emirates but said Ben White and Jurrien Timber should be ack in contention.

The Gunners are still missing injured captain Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Leandro Trossard is suspended after his red card against City.

Their opponents on Sept 28, meanwhile, are missing Patson Daka and Jannik Vestergaard through injury.

Across London, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said on Sept 27 he believes honesty is the best policy as he tries to keep his bloated squad happy.

In his first season in charge, Maresca finds himself saddled with a larger squad than many of his Premier League rivals after Chelsea’s latest summer spending spree.

The Italian made 11 changes for the midweek League Cup victory over Barrow, with Christopher Nkunku taking his chance as the France forward scored his first hat-trick for the Blues.

However, as Maresca ponders his selection for the Sept 28 clash with Brighton at Stamford Bridge, Nkunku will be aware his boss has preferred Nicolas Jackson for the central striker’s role in his opening five league matches.

Maresca faces a difficult task to keep his highly paid stars happy when they are out of the team, but he hopes honest conversations with players such as Nkunku will make a difference in the long term.

“I am honest, I am honest with (Nkunku) and I’m honest with all of them. I’ve said it many times since day one that we can’t play with seven or eight attacking players as there is no defensive balance,” he said.

“In this moment, Nico (Jackson) played last time in the Premier League and scored two goals, Christopher played the other day and scored three, this is good. It’s important they compete with each other.” AFP