Arsenal’s return to Premier League action is quickly coming after their humiliating defeat to champions Liverpool.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to their fellow title contenders at Anfield in their most recent outing, thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant free-kick, giving the Reds a three-point lead in the Premier League table as last year’s runners-up struggled to create enough scoring opportunities.
However, Arsenal still has plenty of opportunities to seize control, as Mikel Arteta welcomed his squad back this week after leading a massive overhaul of his side during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal face a difficult match against Nottingham Forest this weekend, with Arteta’s former Tottenham rival Ange Postecoglou in charge following Nuno Espirito Santo’s sacking. Here’s the most recent news from the Emirates.
Clichy criticizes Arteta’s “lack of ambition”
Arsenal have faced criticism this season for their playing philosophy under Arteta, who, it could be argued, has prioritized defensive stability and set-piece prowess above flowing attacking play.
While the Gunners crushed Leeds United 5-0 in their second game of the season, they only won 1-0 against Manchester United in the season opener thanks to a corner kick goal and were timid in attack against Liverpool.
Read Also:Ruben Amorim Finally Has What Erik ten Hag Lacked At Man United
Gael Clichy, a part of Arsenal’s fabled 2003-04 Invincibles squad that won the Premier League unbeaten, believes the club’s previous philosophy of elegant play under Arsene Wenger has evaporated. He also expressed concern over Arteta’s desire at the club, alleging they were “excited not to lose a game”.
Speaking to Metro, he stated: “Arsenal is approaching a point when the concept and identity of Arsene Wenger’s football are no longer widely recognized. We don’t talk about how well Arsenal played these days; we talk about how tough they are to break down or how good they are at set pieces.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing and an aspect of the game that you must exploit, but there’s no comparison between what Arsenal was and what Arsenal is today.
“We have to realize that the management wants something different. And perhaps with our current wingers and strikers, we will see more of this old-school approach. But we also have to tell it like it is: we may have perceived a lack of ambition from Arsenal as a club and Mikel.
COMMENTS