Carragher challenges Arteta's 'handbrake' defense after Arsenal's City draw

Jamie Carragher challenged Mikel Arteta's rebuttal of criticism over Arsenal's cautious 'handbrake' approach, saying the manager's line-by-line defense did not align with the XI Arsenal selected for their Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The 1-1 draw with City intensified scrutiny of Arteta's tactics, with fans and pundits questioning whether Arsenal were attacking enough or simply protecting a lead. Ahead of a Carabao Cup tie this week, Arteta defended his approach by pointing to the offensive qualities of most of his players, including goalkeeper David Raya, whom he described as the league's 'most attacking stopper' in the division.

Carragher, speaking on Stick to Football, argued that Arteta's remarks did not stack up against the visible team balance. He said the manag­er began with a plan that relied on a structured backline and a midfield trio, and he questioned how the claims about an attacking setup could be supported by the selection that faced City. He recalled Arteta's observation about Raya and added that when the manager moved to discuss his full backs as centre backs, it was a leap that did not fit the players actually chosen. "That's not right," Carragher said, referencing the description that their full backs were essentially centre backs. "I played in a back four under Gerard Houllier; it was four centre backs." He also noted Arteta's mention of Martin Zubimendi as a creative No. 6 and a wide player who operated as a center forward last season, suggesting the defense of the tactic was inconsistent with the lineups on display.

Arteta's defenders argued that the team could still be posed as aggressive, but Carragher suggested the evidence on the pitch did not back up that claim. The exchange came after City, who had earned a rare low-possession outing in Guardiola's era, were held to a 1-1 stalemate as Arsenal rotated players in a way that many pundits viewed as cautious rather than conclusive.

The match details underlined the tactical debate. Arteta lined up with a midfield three of Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, with Leandro Trossard deployed on the left. Ebere Eze and Gabriel Martinelli started on the bench before Martinelli's late equaliser gave Arsenal a point. City recorded 32.8 percent possession—the lowest total of Pep Guardiola's league career—stoking further questions about Arsenal's willingness to press and commit numbers forward.

Gary Neville questioned whether the Gunners believed they could win the league unless they "take the handbrake off" against City, a sentiment that complemented Carragher's broader critique. The draw left Arsenal five points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of a tricky trip to Newcastle United.

As Arsenal prepare for their Carabao Cup tie and a demanding schedule, Carragher insisted that the debate over Arteta's philosophy would endure until the team showed greater explicit attacking intent in open play. He also cast doubt on whether a reliance on set pieces could sustain a title challenge, a line of thinking he tied to the balance of the squad and the tactical choices made in recent fixtures.

"It almost feels like it's down to set pieces if they can win the league," Carragher said of Arsenal's prospects. "They've got the best defence, they'll end up with the most clean sheets. And it almost feels like if their set pieces work, they'll have half a chance and if they don't they won't."