Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has come out in defence of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. He backs Arteta’s recent team selection to handle the Olympiakos clash. As the Gunners prepared to face the Greek side, scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Arteta’s choices came under scrutiny from several critics who labeled his tactics as being on the ‘handbrake.’
As the match came closer, many experts began to speak about their concerns with Arteta’s approach. They believed it fell short of the ambition required to deliver a convincing winning margin. They claimed that the omission of big hitters like Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze signalled a more conservative approach. Sherwood categorically rejects this judgement, insisting that Arteta’s choices were tactical and necessary.
Sherwood noted that having the option to rest some players might play into the decision. This player-forward shift is designed to make sure they’re in peak form for the key matches ahead. He emphasized that managing player fitness is essential in a demanding season where fixture congestion can take a toll on athletes’ performance. As the former Arsenal manager has wisely remarked, rotating players is not the same as playing with a ‘handbrake’ on.
In addition, Sherwood pointed out that Arteta has time and again shown he is willing and able to change his plans in focus of the opposition. During his appearance on Monday, he underscored that Wednesday’s game with Olympiakos was not just any game and required the utmost careful planning. Arteta’s selections must be interpreted in this manner, not as harbingers of cowardice or timidity.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is preparing for their match-up against Olympiakos. For Arteta, it’s important to find the sweet spot between giving enough rotation to key players while continuing to build up momentum. The Gunners hope to make a deep run in European competitions this season. Perhaps Sherwood’s support and encouragement of Arteta would increase Arteta’s courage as he faces the external pressures.
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