Posted: 20:12, September 4, 2022 | Updated: 21:28, September 4, 2022
Gary Neville criticized Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for his “desperate” tactical changes during their 100% start to the new season in their defeat by Manchester United on Sunday. United took the lead in the first half through new £85.5million summer signing Antony, but the Premier League leaders responded well to equalize through Bukayo Saka after the break. However, Erik ten Hag’s side hit back minutes later with Marcus Rashford putting the hosts back in front in the 66th minute. Gary Neville criticized Mikel Arteta’s tactical decisions in Arsenal’s defeat by Manchester United The Spanish coach tore up his game plan with a triple change after 74 minutes on Sunday With his side looking for an equalizer again at Old Trafford, Arteta opted to make a hyper-attacking triple change after 74 minutes. The Spaniard opted to replace Martin Odegaard, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Oleksandr Zinchenko with Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah. However, the Arsenal manager’s decision to turn things around and go on a breakaway in search of a second goal would not have been wise. United took advantage of the new space in the Gunners’ back line on the counter, with Bruno Fernandes playing through a surprise Christian Eriksen who laid the ball off to Marcus Rashford for United’s third goal, effectively killing the game. Emile Smith Rowe replaced Martin Odegaard as the Gunners chased the match at Old Trafford Fabio Vieira also came on for Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has been out injured recently Speaking after the match, Neville expressed his confusion at Arteta’s second-half changes and called the Gunners “naive”. The Sky Sports manager said: “At 2-1, there was no reason to go so desperate, so early. “With 20 minutes to go I thought ‘this could be 4-1 or 5-1. United went more solid, Fred and Casemiro came on. And they just fought back. I don’t think they should have gone so desperate. . “What shocked Arsenal was the second goal they scored. It went against the flow of the game and Arsenal didn’t handle that part of the game well. They deserved to lose the game, because they never got the second goal. “Arsenal, if they had continued to play as they were, would have been back in the game. “Once they lost their form with all those changes, United always scored that third on the counter-attack.” Eddie Nketiah got in front but couldn’t threaten David da Gea in the United goal United took advantage of the extra space on the counter allowing Marcus Rashford to score his second goal Neville further referred to Arteta’s tactical “naivety” and questioned whether the club can continue the form that saw them top the Premier League from week three. “Last year, Arsenal, that lack of maturity was the issue,” he added. They showed in those last 20 minutes a lack of maturity, no doubt. “I thought they were really good today. I love watching them, they are better than last season. “But against Tottenham last season near the end, they played a little bit. In those last 20 minutes today, there was naivety.’ Arsenal will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Old Trafford when they travel to FC Zurich on Thursday to kick off their Europa League campaign.
