Mikel Arteta: Arsenal boss says he has had to adapt ‘much more’ than expected

Mikel Arteta says he has had to adapt his tactical approach “much more” than he expected since taking over as Arsenal boss, due to the composition of his squad.

Arteta left his role as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola’s highly attacking Manchester City side to take over at Arsenal in December 2019 and enjoyed a largely successful start to his tenure, including winning the FA Cup.

However, a seven-game winless streak had seen pressure mount on the Spaniard and his approach questioned, before a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day brought some much-needed respite to the Emirates.

“I question myself every day,” Arteta said. “But since I arrived here, first I had to analyse really well what is happening, what we can and what we cannot do.

“And I have adapted much more than probably what I thought I would when I took the team, because there are certain things that I think are much better for the qualities of the players that we have, and other things that probably we are not prepared to do yet.

“Obviously we have to adapt because at the end of the day we have to make life as simple, as clear, and as efficient as possible for our players when they go onto that pitch.”

It was a youthful Arsenal side that overcame Chelsea on Boxing Day, with a combination of injuries and coronavirus-enforced absences forcing Arteta to make several changes to the side that had been failing him in recent weeks.

Source: Sky Sports

Tags: Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta: Arsenal boss says he has had to adapt ‘much more’ than expected

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