Mikel Arteta shouted at Thomas Partey during Arsenal’s match at Old Trafford to ensure the team stayed tactically disciplined and focused. This occurred during a crucial game as Arsenal aimed to strengthen their title challenge.
Mikel Arteta was unhappy with Arsenal’s performance at Old Trafford, pointing out that his team was uneven, nervous, and passive. Despite facing a Manchester United side that has been defensively weak, allowing an average of 21 shots per game this year, Arsenal managed only 12 shots, highlighting their lack of attacking threat. A critical moment came when Thomas Partey made a mistake by handing the ball to Scott McTominay, who then set up Rasmus Hojlund for a significant chance, which he missed. Arteta was seen shouting at Partey, urging him to calm down and maintain composure.
Arteta noted that after scoring, the team began playing too safely, losing their usual structure and purpose in ball possession. He expressed his dissatisfaction with this cautious approach and found it challenging to rectify during the game. Despite the performance issues, the result was crucial. The victory allowed Arsenal to stay in the title race, giving them a chance to compete for the Premier League title on the final day of the season for the first time since 1999.
Reflecting on the season, Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal has achieved more wins and goals than in any previous Premier League season. Although this effort might still fall short due to Manchester City’s strong title contention, he remained proud of the team’s accomplishments. Ultimately, while the performance at Old Trafford was not ideal, the victory was significant for keeping Arsenal’s title hopes alive.