Paul Merson has voiced concerns over Arsenal’s shift towards a more conservative style under Mikel Arteta.
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Currently third in the Premier League, Arsenal have been criticized for “sitting back too much,” particularly in recent matches where they conceded late goals, as seen in their draws against Manchester City and Liverpool.
Merson, speaking to Sportskeeda, argued that Arsenal’s usual entertaining, attacking play has been replaced by a more defensive, counter-attacking approach that may hinder their title challenge if it continues.
Merson noted that the shift may partly be due to injuries to key players like captain Martin Odegaard, which has impacted Arsenal’s creativity. However, he cautioned that if Arteta’s side remains passive, stronger Premier League teams could exploit this vulnerability.
Highlighting Arsenal’s upcoming matches against Newcastle and Chelsea, Merson stressed the importance of winning both, saying that Arsenal “must find a way” to secure all three points in these challenging fixtures.
He predicted a 2-1 win for Arsenal against Newcastle, despite the Magpies’ strong form following their recent cup victory over Chelsea.
