Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta vows to stick to his guns despite criticism of tactics
- Rob Fleming
- 1 September 2023
Mikel Arteta will be hoping all roads lead to Premier League glory after the Arsenal boss used his daily commute to address criticism aimed at his change in tactics this season.
Arsenal have taken seven points from their opening three games but were held to a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Fulham last week.
They also secured narrow wins over Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace at the start of a campaign where expectations were high after their strong title challenge last year.
Those unconvincing performances have led some to question Arteta's wisdom in tweaking his tactics for the new seasons, switching Thomas Partey to right-back and largely operating with a single midfield pivot.
Asked if he felt like reverting to last season's approach for Sunday's visit of Manchester United, the Spaniard opted to liken the issue to the challenges he faces driving to Arsenal's London Colney training base.
"I played different against Manchester City (in the Community Shield) and there were 43 different formations," he said.
"Every morning I come from my house to Colney. Sometimes I leave at six and I need to go to the windscreen because it's icy. At six o'clock normally I go Finchley Road and then the A21 because it's faster.
"Now Finchley Road is 20 miles per hour so sometimes I take a back door. But then I go on the M25. But depending on if it's a school ride I take one exit. If it's after seven o'clock I take a different exit and then I go.
"One day I have a flat tyre, what do I do? Maybe I have to replace it because there's a garage there. So every game is a different story guys. A different story.
"If we have another injury we're going to have to do something else. If Bukayo (Saka) is not there we're going to have something else. So the M25 won't be good enough. Maybe we'll take another one.
"If I speak to a taxi driver that has learned the whole of London for 20 years, I know nothing compared to him because he will tell me all the streets and options at the best time."
While Arteta was happy to discuss his journey to the training ground, he ruled out any other arrivals on Friday.
With the transfer window closing, he said no new faces were expected to be added to the acquisitions of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber earlier in the summer.
"I don't expect anybody to come in," he added.
"We've done quite a lot and had a bit of uncertainty with some players as well, so we had to be very cautious and find alternatives. Sometimes you want to do everything that is needed but sometimes it's not possible and we have to adapt.
"We cannot go and buy another three players and if somebody else gets injured long-term, do something else. It just wasn't possible."
