Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has outlined what he believes were key errors made by Mikel Arteta during Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League fixture.
Arteta’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, with goals from Ryan Cherki and Erling Haaland sealing the win for the Cityzens.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes suggested that Arteta deviated from his usual tactical setup against Pep Guardiola’s team. He also argued that Eberechi Eze should have remained on the pitch for the full match.
Scholes explained that Arsenal appeared to adopt a far more aggressive approach than usual, which made for an entertaining contest but lacked balance. He noted that such a sudden tactical shift is difficult to execute effectively, adding that if the intention was to push for a goal, Arteta might have been better off sacrificing a more defensive presence like Declan Rice or Martín Zubimendi.
He also questioned the decision to substitute Eze, pointing out that the forward was heavily involved and influencing the game, and suggested that his removal would likely have puzzled both teammates and observers alike.
