Mikel Arteta hits back at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher with cheeky response to Arsenal criticism

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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have handed out identical criticism to Mikel Arteta this season.

The Arsenal manager has been questioned heavily so early into the campaign, largely because of his team selection.

There was an uproar when Eberechi Eze didn’t start against Manchester City, seeing Arteta instead opt to start Mikel Merino in central attacking midfield.

Criticism is a part of football, but Arsenal are really being tested by pundits extremely early into the season.

So much so that the Arsenal squad are becoming irritated, but Arteta has their back.

Mikel Arteta sends cheeky reply to Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville’s criticism

On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville haven’t hesitated to share their opinions on Arsenal.

The punditry pair have clearly exchanged notes with one of their assessments, both calling for Arteta to take the handbrake off.

Carragher suspects that Arteta’s conservative approach will never change when Arsenal face top teams, a narrative that Neville echoed after the Man City draw.

“Arsenal need to take the handbrake off,” Neville said, following on from Carragher’s complaint after the defeat against Liverpool.

“You felt, you got the handbrake on a little bit,” the Liverpool icon said.

Now, Arteta has cheekily responded to the duo, mimicking the ‘handbrake’ obsession in his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s meeting with Port Vale.

Upon being asked if Max Dowman could play against Port Vale, the Arsenal manager responded: “It depends, I might put the handbrake on.”

The media room appreciated Arteta’s joke, laughing at the boss’s subtle jab at Carragher and Neville.

Pressure is already on Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Newcastle

Arsenal are already in their most difficult run of the Premier League season, making the early criticism rather harsh. 

That being said, many do agree with Neville and Carragher’s takes, as Arteta’s squad selection has been conservative in the bigger games.

Neville questioned whether Arteta is a risk-taker following the draw against City, applying pressure to the Arsenal boss ahead of another blockbuster when the Gunners visit Newcastle United on matchday six.

All eyes will be on Arteta’s team selection, with a lot to prove at St James’ Park.