Arsenal are on top of the Premier League and in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
That, at this stage of the season, is something to be proud of, but when you hear what many pundits and rival fans have to say, you would think that the Gunners are in trouble like Tottenham Hotspur.
One of the biggest issues people seem to have with Mikel Arteta’s side is their style of play. Everyone, including some Arsenal fans, wants their side to be more attacking – like PSG and Bayern Munich were on Tuesday night.
Thierry Henry, however, is of a completely different opinion.
Prediction time: What will the score be when Arsenal take on Atletico Madrid in the first-leg?
Thierry Henry questions Arsenal fans demanding a change of style
A lot is said about Arsenal’s style of play after almost every game this season.
Even when the Gunners win, many pundits love undermining the achievement by jumping on the bandwagon about their system.
Arsenal legend Henry played in a team that played the most beautiful football in the country, so it would make sense if he demanded the same as well.
However, the Frenchman doesn’t think it would be wise on Arteta’s part to listen to fans and suddenly change things now.
He said, as quoted by The Metro: “Atletico lost at the Emirates, I think it was 4-0 in the league phase, which doesn’t tell you a lot, but it tells you it’s a game where we created, actually. But it will be different.
“The win, Arsenal against Newcastle, in terms of how we played wasn’t outstanding, but it’s way better to go into that game (vs Atleti) with a win against Newcastle. So let’s see what’s going to happen.
“It’s not so much what I want to see, people are expecting or wanting Arsenal to play a certain way now, they didn’t the whole year.
“Why do you want them now to just go forward and start to create? They play a certain way, Mikel Arteta plays a certain way, we’re strong on set-pieces, solid, we don’t create a lot.
“I would just like to see a win, that will do for me and bring something to The Emirates. You have to be pragmatic sometimes. You cannot always be Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain; we play a different way.
“I think people have to accept the fact that Mikel Arteta goes about the game like that, and hopefully we can win.”
Which Atletico Madrid player are you most worried about this week?
An incorrect narrative has been created about Arsenal
There is a serious misconception about Arsenal these days.
Narratives created by certain pundits and sections of the media have led people to believe that all the Gunners do is sit back, defend deep and steal a set-piece goal to get a win.
Those who think the above have no idea what they are talking about.
Arsenal have scored just two fewer goals than the always-attacking Manchester City in the Premier League. They also outscored every other team in the group stage of the Champions League.
Henry is right, you will never see Arsenal being involved in a game like the one between Bayern and PSG, but that doesn’t mean they are a defensive team.
Arsenal may well be better at the back than going forward, but if teams think they can play an open game against them, they will get battered.
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