Yaya Toure has praised Mikel Arteta for the manner in which he has changed Arsenal’s style, as he told Premier League Productions (06/03/22 at 3:00 pm).
The Premier League title-winner claimed that Arsenal have ‘improved’ when they lose the ball, as he compared the London club’s style to when he was at Barcelona.
Over the weekend, the Gunners maintained their hopes of securing Champions League football when they beat Watford 3-2.
There is no doubt that, since Arteta swapped Manchester City’s dugout for Arsenal’s, he has divided opinion.
But Toure thinks the style of play at the Emirates is changing for the good, as he made reference to the manner in which they win the ball back.
“If you see the action before the goals, that’s why you have to give credit to Arteta since he has arrived at Arsenal,” said Toure.
“He has improved this team when they lose the ball. Five seconds and they get the ball back. That’s typical from Pep (Guardiola).
“When I was at Barcelona, they were doing similar. When they lost the ball, the guys who are in front, they stay. The guys who are behind, they run behind you. Man City do that a lot. They are great at that.
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“Then, when they get the ball back, they change their pace to finish as soon as possible. It looks simple, but it’s very hard.”
At the start of the season, not many would have tipped the London club to secure a top-four finish.
In fact, their summer transfer business was being mocked and the start they had to the season was an utter disaster.
But, fast forward to today, and now the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu are being praised to the hills and back.
Added with that, Arteta has the youngest squad in the Premier League at his disposal, so this group of players are years away from their best.
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