From Soft Team To League Champions
Mikel Arteta took charge at Arsenal in December 2019 after working as an assistant for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. He rebuilt the squad around young attacking talent. Arsenal went from finishing eighth in his first season to three straight second place finishes. They finally won the Premier League title in the 2025 26 season.
Arsenal were once criticized for being too soft. Last season people called them reliant on set pieces. Now critics argue the Gunners have become too cynical in their search for trophies.
Tactics On Display At Anfield
A recent 1-0 win at Liverpool gave Arsenal their first victory at Anfield in 14 years. The match featured multiple stoppages for free kicks, fouls, and throw ins. It also included a missed video review when defender Jurriën Timber pulled back Alexander Isak on a clear goal scoring chance.
This physical approach developed after past European struggles. In February 2024, Arsenal lost 1-0 to FC Porto in a match where the ball was in play for only 50 minutes. Arteta said after that game that his players needed to learn street smarts and learn from teams who master those methods.
Bending The Rules To Win
Opponents have taken notice of Arsenal tactics for a while. Manchester City defender John Stones said, "You can call it clever, or dirty," after a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September 2023. In the Champions League final against PSG, three Arsenal players deliberately ran down the clock at a throw in while leading 1-0 near half time.
New rules require referees to count down on goal kicks. At Anfield, goalkeeper David Raya had six seconds to restart play. Players still use these countdowns to control the tempo of the game.
Former Players Defend The Gunners
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha says Arsenal are not too cynical. He stated that the team does not play anti football because they have strong attackers and great physical ability. He added that all the players work together to slow the game down or speed it up whenever needed.
Other observers note that elite sports teams always push boundaries. Arsenal simply execute these methods better than their rivals.
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