Pundit Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that Mikel Arteta’s decision to play Willian as a false nine against Manchester City was ‘desperately disappointing’.
Arsenal went away to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening in search of three points, having made a promising start to Arteta’s first full season in charge.
However, they fell to a 1-0 defeat as Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game, with the England ace scoring after Phil Foden had seen his shot saved by Bernd Leno.
Arsenal couldn’t get themselves level and went home empty-handed, with the attention turning to Arteta’s surprising tactical choice.
Arteta went with Willian as his central striker, playing him in something of an unfamiliar, reserved, false nine role whilst having Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe drift in from the flanks.
It didn’t really work as City posted a clean sheet, and substitutes Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah – actual, recognised strikers – couldn’t change the game.
Now, pundit Crooks has slated Arteta’s decision, branding the choice to play Willian up front as ‘desperately disappointing’ having seen Leicester City destroy City going forward earlier this season.
Crooks added that Arteta was just trying to pad his team rather than attack City, and that’s why they got exactly what they deserved, which was nothing.
“To see the Gunners playing Willian in a striking role with Alexandre Lacazette, a proven striker, on the bench – particularly having seen what Leicester did to City – was desperately disappointing,” said Crooks. “Manager Mikel Arteta wasn’t being calculating – it was padding and the Gunners got what they deserved: nothing,” he added.
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