Mikel Arteta is not like Guardiola; he's turning into Mourinho

Arsenal and Liverpool delivered a gripping encounter in London, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw to conclude the ninth round of the Premier League.

The Gunners held the advantage twice, thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka in the ninth minute and Mikel Merino just before halftime in the 43rd. However, Liverpool showed resilience, equalizing through Virgil van Dijk in the 18th minute and again through Mohamed Salah in the 81st, denying Arsenal the victory. This result has sparked debate among pundits, with notable figures such as Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher scrutinizing Arsenal’s approach and mentality under Mikel Arteta.

During the post-match analysis on Sky Sports, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane expressed his worries about Arsenal’s mindset and consistency when facing top opponents. Keane's comments were echoed and expanded upon by Jamie Carragher, who offered a particularly striking observation about Arteta’s evolving managerial style. Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, suggested that while Arteta was once seen as a protégé of Pep Guardiola due to their time together at Manchester City, he is now taking a tactical approach more akin to José Mourinho.

Carragher elaborated on this unexpected shift in Arteta’s style, stating, "When they took the lead, they sat back instead of pushing for a third goal. Liverpool was there for the taking if they wanted it. I’m only concerned about their belief do they really think they can challenge Manchester City? The interesting thing about watching Arsenal is that we always thought he was a disciple of Pep Guardiola. If you think about the two most successful managers of the last 15 years, it’s Pep Guardiola on one side and José Mourinho on the other. Mikel Arteta is slowly transforming into a Mourinho-style manager. No one expected this to happen. Today, they pulled back in the second half."

Carragher’s comparison with Mourinho highlighted his perception of Arsenal’s conservative tactics, especially when leading. This approach, often associated with Mourinho’s game management style, focuses on preserving leads rather than extending them, which some argue could signal a lack of confidence in Arsenal’s attacking prowess. Carragher noted that Arteta’s decisions have shown a more defensive mindset, particularly in this season, as the team now seems more focused on structure and control rather than pressing for additional goals, a hallmark of Mourinho’s strategy at his peak.

Moreover, Carragher pointed out that Arteta’s approach leading up to the match also echoed Mourinho’s style. He said, "This isn’t a criticism; it’s an observation of where Arsenal is as a team. Maybe it’s because Arteta looked at his attacking players and thought: ‘We’re not as good as Manchester City; we have to win the league by being the best defensive team.’ That’s what they were last season, and they still are. But this idea that Arsenal plays great football and that he’s a Guardiola-like manager it’s not true. Just look at who played today and the secrecy around who was fit and who wasn’t. It’s all straight out of the Mourinho playbook."

Arteta’s shift from a more attacking philosophy toward a structured, defensively solid approach might reflect a strategic adaptation, as he seeks to bridge the gap with title-holders Manchester City. Carragher's remark on the “secrecy” around player fitness and lineup decisions could indicate that Arteta, much like Mourinho, is using psychological tactics to maintain an element of unpredictability against strong opponents.

As it stands, Arsenal occupies third place in the Premier League table with 18 points, tied with Aston Villa but behind Liverpool (22 points) and the reigning champions, Manchester City (23 points). This position highlights the competitive nature of the season, with Arsenal looking to challenge City’s dominance and retain a spot among the top teams. Arteta’s tactical choices, influenced by a blend of Guardiola’s and Mourinho’s methods, could prove to be decisive as Arsenal navigates the title race.