Barcelona Legend Accuses Arteta Of Using Ferguson Tactic To Win EPL Title
Arsenal's Premier League title hopes have been boosted by their nine-point advantage at the top of the table, but the pressure is mounting on manager Mikel Arteta to maintain his side's winning form. The Gunners are heavy favourites to win the title for the first time since 2004, but they face a significant test in their upcoming match against Manchester City. Arteta's side will be looking to bounce back from their Carabao Cup final defeat, which served as a wake-up call ahead of the international break. The match against City will be a crucial test of Arsenal's strength and depth, with Pep Guardiola's side still having a game in hand and looking to cut the lead to at least three points.
The workload on Arteta's squad has been significant, with many players pulling out of their international squads over the past week. Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie have confirmed their intentions to return to London Colney ahead of schedule, taking the total number of players who have pulled out to 10. The extent of the injuries to these players remains to be seen, but Arsenal will be hoping that they can recover in time for their FA Cup tie against Southampton this weekend.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have both pulled out of their international squads, joining players like Saliba and Gabriel who have also been ruled out. Former England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker has accused Arteta of employing a tactic made famous by Sir Alex Ferguson, who would often pressure his players to miss friendly matches for their countries. Lineker believes that Arteta is using a similar tactic to maintain his players' fitness levels and ensure their availability for key matches.
The fact that Arteta is willing to put the interests of the team ahead of the interests of individual players suggests a level of ruthlessness that could be crucial in the title race. With seven games remaining, Arsenal's squad depth will be put to the test, and Arteta's ability to manage his players' workload will be key to their success. The upcoming match against Manchester City will be a defining moment in the title race, and Arteta's tactics will be under close scrutiny.
