Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has revealed what he dislikes about Mikel Arteta days before the Gunners’ crucial meeting against Premier League title rivals Manchester City.
If Arteta’s Arsenal team defeat Pep Guardiola’s dominant Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, April 19, they would virtually guarantee the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
Arsenal lead the Premier League by six points before a ball is kicked after playing one more game than City.
With six games left, the 10-time English champions would be three points behind Arsenal if they win this encounter.
Petit Criticizes Arteta’s Body Language
According to Sport Bible, Petit, a former France international and Premier League champion, has expressed his displeasure with Arteta’s body language in recent weeks, calling the Spaniard ‘nervous.’
“If they don’t win the title from here, Arsenal players will be traumatised forever,” Petit said.
“I don’t really like the temperament of Mikel Arteta on the bench sometimes. His body language — I don’t like it. It’s the same thing I’ve seen with Unai Emery at times. He looks nervous, very tense.
“I can understand that because when you are close to being in a Champions League semi-final, it’s so important. Two years in a row, you are leading the Premier League table.
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“So, I can understand the way you react. You are very passionate, you have this desire to win something, but the fact is that Arteta has never won something important.
“I said it a couple of weeks ago, the most difficult trophy in your career is your first one. Look what happened to Paris Saint-Germain, look what happened with so many teams.
“The first trophy is the most important because when you open the door, you know you can open the door. And Arteta never opened the door as a player.”
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