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Jamie Carragher has accused Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta of “turning into a Jose Mourinho type of manager”.
Carragher’s comments came later Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The Gunners took the lead twice in the first half at the Emirates Stadium, with Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino scoring either side of Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser.
However, Arsenal took their foot off the gas in the second half, allowing Liverpool to push them further and further back.
Eventually, the pressure proved too much, with Mohamed Salah scoring in the 81st minute to snatch a point from Arne Slot’s men.
Is Mikel Arteta turning into Jose Mourinho?
After the match, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane questioned ‘mentality’ of the Arsenal players.
But Carragher has laid the blame on Arteta, who he believes is moving away from being a Pep Guardiola clone and shifting towards a more pragmatic, Mourinho-style style.
“Because Mikel Arteta worked with Pep Guardiola, we’re almost thinking he’s a disciple of Pep Guardiola,” Carragher said. Sky Sports.
“If you look at the two most successful coaches of the last 10 or 15 years, here you have Pep Guardiola with a certain style of football, and Jose Mourinho, almost as successful at the other end.
“Mikel Arteta is slowly turning into a Jose Mourinho type of manager and nobody really thought that would happen. I just think it’s very interesting how he’s gotten there.”
Elaborating on his hypothesis, Carragher continued: “Today, 2-1, pressuring Liverpool, above Liverpool, playing very well. Then they pull away in the second half.
“Now, I know they’ve had a couple of back injuries, but they’ve still got their midfielders playing, they’ve still got their attacking players playing, what do you think – you can get the ball, you can try to get the puck. because of the pressure that is it under?’
“That comes from the manager, but it happens too often now.
“You see it when they have 10 men. I understand what happened at City, I thought what they did at City was brilliant. But what they did against Brighton, what they did against Bournemouth last week. The best teams I’ve seen before with 10 men, I also go back to my own experience, yes, you’re under pressure, but you lighten it up. You keep the ball a bit more, you’re still a threat up front.”
