Arsenal fans were frustrated by Mikel Arteta’s team selection against Athletic Club on Tuesday afternoon.
The Gunners struggled for long periods in the Champions League clash, finding it difficult to play through the Basque side’s solid defensive structure.
While Noni Madueke was bright, Eberechi Eze was unable to get into the game frequently and influence proceedings on the left-hand side.
That said, Arsenal eventually found the breakthrough when substitute Gabriel Martinelli slotted home after being played through by Leandro Trossard.
The Belgian then doubled the North Londoners’ lead three minutes from time.
Arsenal fans weren’t happy with Mikel Arteta’s team selection vs Athletic Club
Arteta was criticised for being conservative at Anfield against Liverpool before the international break, and these critics won’t have been happy with what the Spaniard did in Bilbao on Tuesday.
The Gunners boss selected Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in a midfield trio, the same three players who started in the middle of the park on Merseyside.
This midfield configuration certainly wasn’t effective against a resolute Athletic Club side, with Arsenal struggling to create many meaningful chances in the first half in particular.
Supporters of the North London club took to social media to express their frustration with their manager.
One fan wrote on X: “That was a terrible first half from Arsenal, the three midfield of Rice, Zubimendi and Merino is not working, no creativity in them, it’s a wasteful first half for me. Not good enough. Arteta always likes to gamble.”
Another added: “Sluggish first half that. Zubimendi,Rice & Merino as a midfield three just doesn’t work, too stale. Need a Nwaneri in there to complement Zubimendi & Rice or even Merino instead of Rice as he’s on a yellow. We need to move the ball quicker and Ethan will give us that.”
One supporter posited: “A midfield of Rice Merino and Zubimendi doesn’t work!”
Meanwhile, another wrote: “Arteta needs to abandon this Merino/Rice/Zubimendi midfield. No balance.”
Mikel Merino should have come off at half-time against Athletic Club
It was a stale first-half showing from Arsenal, largely because of the midfield’s inability to link defence with the attack.
The Gunners needed either Eze or Ethan Nwaneri in the middle of the park to help progress the ball forward and find the attacking players on the pitch.
Mikel Merino was peripheral in the opening 45 minutes, hardly getting on the ball and failing to break into the box to support the attack.
The Spaniard should’ve been replaced at half-time, and the Gunners may well have started threatening Athletic Club’s back-line earlier.
Arteta can’t rely on this midfield three consistently moving forward.
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