Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s head coach, knew he would be under the microscope. This criticism followed his decision to field a conservative midfield in last week’s match versus Manchester City. The highly anticipated game took place on Sunday, 21 September 2025, starting at 19:42 UK time. Despite this very public criticism, Arteta continued to double down on his decisions. He promised that with every strategic decision, the best interests of the team were being prioritized.
In the lead up to the final, everyone wondered what Arteta would do, especially with his midfielders. Opponents suggested that choosing a much more defensive lineup would abort Arsenal’s attacking potential. Arteta insisted that his own game plan was a measured one, designed to exploit Manchester City’s fearsome strength in midfield. His statement represents the dedication to changing strategy according to foes while aiming for a full roster of offensive productivity.
Arteta dismissed criticism of his midfield selection. And he said, “Nobody consulted me on the midfield in Bilbao!” This indicates he’s the type of person who doesn’t let external pressures influence his tactical choices. This one sentence shows his incredible faith in his approach. And he puts a lot of faith in players to do their job and just play their positions.
Ahead of that match, Arteta unleashed a new level of video analysis tools right from a Chrome browser. These data-driven tools enable him to expand his player performance evaluations. This new technology enables him to analyze previous games and plan strategically, making evidence-based decisions about player choices and formations. The head coach highlighted the advantage of using available technology to draw valuable insights that help create winning game plans.
Despite Arsenal’s efforts on the pitch, the match ended with Manchester City claiming victory, leading to further examination of Arteta’s midfield choices. As post-match analysis focused in on difficulties that Arsenal had on the ball, both in terms of building up and creating goal scoring opportunities. Critics were left to wonder if a more adventurous selection would have changed the game’s result.
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