Former Manchester City player and Premier League pundit Micah Richards has revealed the one tactical error that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made that cost them the 2023-24 Premier League title.
Arsenal were capitulated in the Premier League title race again, losing to Manchester City on the final by a two-point margin.
It was a largely successful campaign for Mikel Arteta who came so close to ending the club’s 20-year wait for the Premier League title.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Richards spoke of the very moment Arsenal lost the Premier League to Manchester City.
According to the former City player, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was the nightmare tactician who foiled Arteta’s tactics and dealt a big blow to the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes.
”I just go back to that Villa game, Arsenal v Villa at home,”
Richard mentioned the particular tactical tweak Arteta made which backfired. He said the Spaniard would not have opted to play Kai Havertz in the midfield but would have used him as a false – a role the German has aced perfectly.
“Arteta chose to go with Havertz in the midfield area instead of the false nine which has worked so well for them. Could’ve went with a Jorginho or Partey.
‘Emery, on the day, tactically got it spot on. So, yeah, disappointed.”
Aston Villa ran out with a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium – a game that had a tremendous impact on the title, flipping it immediately in favor of Manchester City.
After challenging for the Premier League title for two consecutive seasons, coming close on both occasions, Arteta will hope to stage a stronger challenge for the title next season.
We reported earlier that Arsenal are already working around the club to renew terms with the Spaniard, whose contract will expire at the end of next season.
