Roy Keane claims Arsenal ‘still look short’ in key area as Mikel Arteta problem exposed
For the second time in five days, Gabriel Martinelli’s heroics from the bench secured Arsenal a positive result.
Arsenal drew against Man City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (September 21) in a match the Gunners dominated possession-wise but found it difficult to break through Pep Guardiola’s defensive wall.
Gary Neville was stunned by Erling Haaland after his devastating run and finish gave City the lead in the ninth minute, with the hosts needing a moment of brilliance to get back on level terms.
Martinelli’s lob over Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 93rd minute rescued a point for Mikel Arteta, but this result continued to expose an issue that has plagued the Gunners for years.
Roy Keane thinks Arsenal are still short of creativity
Arsenal fans were annoyed at Arteta before the match after he dropped Eberechi Eze to the bench, replacing him with Leandro Trossard.
There was a distinct lack of creativity in the first period, as City weren’t threatened by the hosts and made soaking up pressure look easy.
But when Bukayo Saka and Eze were introduced from the bench at half-time, the Gunners gained some attacking impetus and it was Eze’s clever assist for Martinelli that resulted in their equaliser.
Sadly, Roy Keane still isn’t convinced by Arsenal’s creative strength, claiming they ‘still look short’ in a crucial area.
“It’s the same issues for Arsenal,” Keane said on Sky Sports.
“On the one hand, you have to give them credit. They kept going and in the end they got a draw.
“However, when you are talking about Arsenal winning league titles and you see what Liverpool are doing and what Man City have done over the years, they are still short in terms of creativity.
“They have a lot of good players and they are a really solid team, but the standards the other teams have set over the years, they still look short in that area.”
Jamie Carragher agrees with Keane
Arteta has been criticised for playing it too safe in the big games, and on Sunday afternoon, the Spaniard was exposed for one of his biggest flaws.
Last season, Arsenal struggled to break down defences, and it ended up costing them the title. However, the arrivals of Viktor Gyokeres and Eze, for instance, were supposed to give them an upperhand.
Worryingly for the North London side, Jamie Carragher felt Arsenal didn’t look like scoring in open play, and that is something Arteta must address.
“I cannot get away from the fact Arsenal do not look like scoring a goal in open play and I felt that at Man Utd in the first game and at Anfield and today – credit to them as they found a way, they had lots of set pieces, but did not look as dangerous on them today, but this still has to be a worry for Arsenal,” Carragher said.
The solution to the issue is simple – Arteta must take off the handbrake or risk costing Arsenal the title this season.