Mikel Arteta has responded to criticism suggesting his tactical approach at Arsenal is overly cautious, particularly in the wake of their recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City. The Arsenal manager said he was surprised by accusations that his team plays "with the handbrake on".

Following the draw against Manchester City, Arteta faced criticism for his team selection, specifically the midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino, with Eberechi Eze and Ethan Nwaneri starting on the bench. Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville critiqued Arsenal's lack of intent in the first half, with Carragher calling it "a waste of 45 minutes" and Neville saying they needed to "take the handbrake off".

Arteta, however, has defended his approach. He stated he doesn't read the criticism but is informed of the narrative surrounding it. He said he would be "extremely surprised" if the assessment of his tactics was accurate, given his own knowledge and analysis of the game. He highlighted Arsenal's dominance in the game, noting that it was "impossible for somebody to predict such dominance from Arsenal through 96 minutes because it never happened in 17 years of Pep as a manager". Arteta questioned how a team could be dominant with a "handbrake" on, arguing that "dominance and handbrake, they are two different words".

Arteta also addressed the decision not to start Eberechi Eze, stating that the player had already started two games and questioning whether he could play 90 minutes. He said that it's easy to say Eze could have started, but it may not have been possible due to the player's workload.

Some observers have noted Arsenal's tendency to adopt a cautious strategy against top clubs. Paul Scholes criticized Arteta's tactics as "very negative," suggesting he's brought an "English mentality" to the team, prioritizing safety first. Gary Neville suggested that Pep Guardiola deployed an ultra-defensive tactic against Arsenal because Mikel Arteta was a "one-trick pony", favoring a physical approach and set-piece chances.

Despite the criticism, Arteta maintains that defensive solidity remains a central part of Arsenal's strategy. The team is focused on balancing attack and defense, which may not always please those who prefer a more expansive style. Arteta said that he respects everyone's opinion and is willing to learn if he can see something he hasn't seen. He also stated that one player doesn't change his overall tactics.