Wayne Rooney claims Mikel Arteta ‘panicked’ during Arsenal’s loss to Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney asserts that Mikel Arteta “panicked” during Arsenal’s 3-2 loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday.
After taking the lead with a Lisandro Martinez own goal, goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu put Arsenal in a challenging position, prompting Arteta to implement a quadruple substitution just before the hour mark in an attempt to alter the outcome.
However, this strategy proved ineffective as, despite a late equalizer from Mikel Merino, Matheus Cunha clinched the victory for United with a remarkable strike in the closing moments.
Former United and England striker Rooney criticized Arsenal’s tactics in their defeat and Arteta’s choice to make multiple changes in the second half.
“I think there was a panic,” Rooney remarked.
“I regard Arteta as exceptional and have commended him frequently, but I believe he panicked after Manchester United took a 2-1 lead and opted to make four changes simultaneously.
“It seems he rushed those adjustments instead of allowing Arsenal to attempt to recover with the players already on the field, and it did not yield positive results.
“As the season progresses, it will become increasingly challenging; in my view, Arsenal remains the favorite to win the league, but I don’t believe it will be straightforward for them.”
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Arsenal has acquired players such as Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke in attacking roles over the past year, yet Rooney feels that Arteta’s key players have not performed sufficiently this season.
“Any team that is at the top of the Premier League or aiming to win the league, as we experienced at United, will often defend against you and create difficulties,” he stated.
“That is why your star players need to locate space and exploit those tight areas, which I believe Arsenal has struggled with a bit this season.
“Yes, they scored from a set-piece [against Man United], but that is still a significant aspect of the game; I don’t see that as a concern for them.”
