Picture credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs & Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs
Jamie Carragher has accused Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta of ‘morphing right into a Jose Mourinho sort of supervisor’.
Carragher’s feedback got here after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
The Gunners twice took the lead within the first half on the Emirates Stadium, with Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino scoring both facet of Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser.
Nonetheless, Arsenal took their foot off the gasoline within the second half, permitting Liverpool to push them additional and additional again.
Finally, the stress proved an excessive amount of, with Mohamed Salah netting within the 81st minute to grab some extent for Arne Slot’s males.
Is Mikel Arteta ‘morphing’ into Jose Mourinho?
After the match, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane questioned the ‘mentality’ of Arsenal’s gamers.
However Carragher has positioned the blame on Arteta, who he believes is transferring away from being a Pep Guardiola clone and shifting towards a extra pragmatic, Mourinho-esque fashion.
“As a result of Mikel Arteta labored with Pep Guardiola, we’re virtually considering this a Pep Guardiola disciple,” Carragher advised Sky Sports activities.
“When you take a look at the 2 most profitable managers of the final 10 or 15 years, you’ve acquired Pep Guardiola right here with a sure fashion of soccer, and also you’ve acquired Jose Mourinho, virtually equally as profitable on the different finish.
“Mikel Arteta is slowly morphing right into a Jose Mourinho sort of supervisor and no person actually thought that may occur. I simply assume it’s actually fascinating how he’s acquired there.”
Additional explaining his speculation, Carragher continued: “You see at this time, 2-1 up, urgent Liverpool, on high of Liverpool, taking part in very well. Then they retreat within the second half.
“Now, I do know they’d a few accidents on the again, however they’ve nonetheless acquired the midfielders taking part in, nonetheless acquired their attacking gamers taking part in, who you assume ‘are you able to get on the ball, are you able to try to take the sting out of the stress you’re below?’
“That’s come from the supervisor, nevertheless it occurs too typically now.
“You see it once they have 10 males. I get what occurred at Metropolis, I assumed what they did at Metropolis was good. However what they did in opposition to Brighton, what they had been doing in opposition to Bournemouth final week. Prime groups I’ve seen earlier than with 10 males — I am going again to my very own expertise as nicely — yeah, you’re below stress, however you relieve it. You retain the ball a bit extra, you’re nonetheless a menace going ahead.”