SportsNews
EPL: ‘This is why Liverpool I played for never won title’ – Carragher warns Mikel Arteta
Former Liverpool star, Jamie Carragher, has slammed Mikel Arteta over the Spaniard’s conservative approach to games.
He said this could cost the Gunners the Premier League title, adding that the former Man City assistant boss is making the same mistake repeatedly.
Arsenal narrowly escaped from being handed their second defeat of the season drawing 1-1 with Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday.
Erling Haaland scored for Man City after just nine minutes and Pep Guardiola’s side held their lead until the 93rd minute when Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic equaliser.
Arsenal recorded over 67 per cent possession against Pep Guardiola’s team, who were obviously defensive.
Carragher said that Arteta would have himself to blame for repeatedly picking the conservative midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino.
Arsenal were able to open up the game when Ebere Eze and Bukayo Saka replaced Noni Madueke and Merino.
Carragher said the Arsenal boss is being too cautious and it could cost his side the title again.
“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 it doesn’t cost you at the end of the season because they are a brilliant team.”
Arsenal are now five points behind league-leaders, Liverpool.
Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi, has admitted they are waiting to see if the team would still play at the 2026 World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is optimistic of a potential lifeline from FIFA, after it submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Iwobi was asked by SuperSport if he would rather lift the AFCON 2025 trophy or qualify for the World Cup?
The 29-year-old, who played at the 2018 of the World Cup, replied: “I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.
“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.
“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Politics
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDOLES WITH SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE OF THE SUPER EAGLES ON THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER
President Bola Tinubu sends his condolences
to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.
The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.
President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.
“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.
I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.
President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
Arsenal’s starting XI to face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday evening has been unveiled.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opted to start Gabriel Jesus ahead of Viktor Gyokeres to lead the Gunners’ attack against the Red Devils.
This comes after Jesus scored a brace against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek.
The Brazilian will be assisted by Bukayo Saka and Leandro on the wings.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard return to join Martin Zubimendi.
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