Richard Keys has warned Arsenal that only one man can be blamed if they miss out on the Premier League title again this season, and it’s not the players. The English presenter was left stunned after watching Gabriel Martinelli spare the Gunners’ blushes in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday (September 21).
Martinelli stepped off the bench and netted a delightful chip after Eberechi Eze played a clever ball over the top. The two substitutes linked up to ensure the hosts at least claimed a point at the Emirates.
City were close to clinching all three points following Erling Haaland’s early opener, which was a glorious goal against the run of play. The visitors were nowhere near the best, but Arteta’s men failed to capitalise and are already five points behind Liverpool in the title race.
Richard Keys Warns Arsenal About Mikel Arteta
Keys had already voiced his concerns over Arteta ahead of their 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest last weekend. He claimed that the Spaniard’s decision-making, such as starting Declan Rice on the bench for that game, could cost his side the title.
Arteta’s decision proved the right one at the City Ground as his troops surged to a comfortable victory. But a week later another bold team selection has brought his title-winning credentials under scrutiny.
Eze started on the bench and he opted to go with a midfield three of Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. The same midfield three that were bested in a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break.
Keys has told the North Londoners that Arteta will be the reason they don’t end a 22-year wait for Premier League glory. He said on beIN SPORTS: “I’m astounded. I said to you last week if they don’t win the title he’ll [Arteta] be the reason! You’ve got to start Eze, unless he’s injured, you have to be starting Eze in this game and every game.”
Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in the summer in a £67.5m deal but Arteta has mainly used him out on the left. The English attacker’s best work comes centrally, a position often taken up by the injured Martin Odegaard.
Keys responded to his colleague, Andy Gray who questioned Arteta’s decision to pick Leandro Trossard over both Eze and Martinelli: “When you’re playing at home, you’ve got Eze, who’s a crowd pleaser, set the place on fire. You’ve spent big money on him, and you’re playing Trossard, he’s a sub, he’s not even first on.”
The Gunners have won three, drawn one and lost one of their opening five games of the Premier League campaign. They have finished second in each of the last three seasons and Arteta is under huge pressure to guide them over the finishing line after spending over £250m in the summer.
Arteta Defends Not Starting Eze or Martinelli
There’s no denying that Arsenal controlled proceedings at the Emirates but there dominance on the ball didn’t count for anything until Martinelli’s equaliser. It was a performance that highlighted the issues Arteta has in failing to show the bravery required of a title winning coach.
The Spaniard went on the defensive when Sky Sports asked him whether he regretted not starting the duo who connected for the goal: “It’s too easy to say that I think. I think it’s very clear what we wanted to do. We started the game very well and completely dominated.”
Arteta added: “I leave that to you but for me, there’s a lot of attacking players in that team. I thought it was the best way to start the game. Nobody asked me about the midfield three in Bilbao. Nobody. But it’s the same midfield. I believed it was the best thing for the team.”
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City registered their lowest ever average possession in a Premier League fixture today (32.8%)
Next up for Arteta’s side is a trip to Port Vale for a Carabao Cup third-round tie on Wednesday (September 24). He will at least be able to rotate in that game without having his trophy-winning credentials criticized unless they suffer a shock loss to the EFL League One Outfit at Vale Park.