Jamie Carragher: Arsenal's Title Aspirations Affected by Mikel Arteta's Shift to Defensive Tactics

Jamie Carragher has expressed concerns that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is "morphing into Jose Mourinho," suggesting that the notion of Arsenal playing attractive football is increasingly misguided. Following a 2-2 draw against Liverpool, where the Gunners initially led 2-1 at halftime, Carragher critiqued Arteta's tactical approach, particularly in the second half when the team fell back defensively and engaged in time-wasting tactics.

Despite their strong first-half performance, Arsenal's inability to maintain their lead has become a troubling trend this season. They have dropped points while in front multiple times, including games against Manchester City and Brighton, and suffered a defeat against Bournemouth. After the match against Liverpool, Arteta acknowledged that his players needed to display more "courage" to secure the victory.

Carragher noted that this isn't the first time he has observed a shift in Arteta's management style, linking it to Mourinho’s defensive mindset. "I’ve been reflecting on this for quite a while, especially since last year's fixture," Carragher stated on Sky Sports. He highlighted the contrast between Arteta, who was expected to emulate Pep Guardiola’s attacking philosophy, and the reality of his current tactical decisions.

"Although Mikel Arteta learned from Pep, he seems to be adopting some traits of Mourinho, who is equally successful but known for his more cautious style," Carragher continued. He pointed out that while Arsenal started strong against Liverpool, they withdrew into a defensive shell during the second half, which ultimately cost them valuable points.

Carragher stressed that even though injuries have affected Arsenal's squad, they still have the quality in midfield and attack to play more assertively. He emphasized the need for a more offensive approach, particularly when under pressure. "When top teams go down to ten men, they find ways to relieve pressure by keeping possession and remaining a threat," he said, drawing a parallel to Mourinho's tactics during his time at Inter Milan.

The Sky Sports pundit concluded that the perception of Arsenal as a team that plays attractive football under Arteta is becoming increasingly inaccurate. "This defensive strategy, including the secrecy surrounding player fitness before matches, feels straight out of Mourinho's playbook," Carragher remarked. He believes that for Arsenal to fulfill their title ambitions, a shift away from this risk-averse approach is necessary.