Mick McCarthy claims the narratives that are being spread about Arsenal after their draw against Manchester City are wide of the mark.
Mikel Arteta’s team snatched a point against the Citizens, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s exquisite 93rd-minute equaliser.
The Brazilian brilliantly flicked the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the back of the net after being played in by Eberechi Eze.
Despite securing this valuable point at the death, the result leaves the Gunners five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, subsequently sparking negative discourse around Mikel Arteta and his players.
Mick McCarthy disagrees with what’s being said about Arsenal
Gary Neville hammered Arteta for his approach to the game against City, claiming the Spaniard’s negative team selection filtered through to his players.
The outspoken pundit wasn’t the only one to express disappointment in the Gunners’ manager after the clash with Pep Guardiola’s team.
Troy Deeney claimed Arsenal have a ‘victim mentality’, slamming Arteta for his pragmatic tactics.
These are just a handful of the critics who lambasted the Gunners for drawing at home to one of the best teams in the English top flight.
Former Premier League manager Mick McCarthy has revealed that he was shocked by this discourse around Arsenal after the encounter in N5.
“I watched Match of the Day last night and I watched it this morning and I’m listening to the talk about Arsenal weren’t very good and I’m thinking, hold on a minute, they were playing against Manchester City, who won the title five times in a row,” McCarthy said on the Managers’ YouTube channel.
“So, do you know it’s funny this, I listen to people talking about it on the TV, commentators, co-commentators, pundits.
“You’ve got to consider who you’re playing against, and he’s playing against arguably the best coach in the world who have won the title five times on the bounce. If I’m wrong, forgive me, correct me.”
Mick McCarthy is spot on about Arsenal
Questions around whether Arteta could’ve been slightly less conservative and named a more ambitious attacking line-up are completely valid.
However, the doom-mongering around Arsenal based on a draw against City is hyperbolic.
The Gunners will no doubt be disappointed to have not claimed all three points, but the idea that it’s a disastrous result that should prompt a referendum on Arteta’s future is absurd.
While not as good as they once were, City are still a very competent team with a Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder and the best striker in the world in their starting eleven.
There was ultimately very little between the two sides, as both managers opted to be conservative and risk-averse.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
