Arteta Shrugs Off Criticism as Arsenal Chases Success

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta isn't too concerned about the naysayers. He contends that the criticism of his team's playing style comes from just a tiny fraction of observers. Despite a stellar record of 10 wins from 11 games this season, the Gunners have faced challenges in finding the back of the net consistently, particularly against teams that sit back and defend. Their recent victory over Nottingham Forest relied on a late goal from substitute Noni Madueke, marking only their 11th goal in seven Premier League matches. Last season, Arsenal clinched the Premier League title by boasting the league's best defensive record and scoring the most from set-pieces. However, the current campaign has seen them yet to register a single goal from a set-piece in any competition. When discussing the ongoing conversation about their style of play, Arteta noted, "I don't have that impression because I heard that the style was incredible. We have scored so many goals, we have more possession, more shots, different players participating, no goals on set-pieces." He believes the narrative around the team's performances is quite different from last year. "I think we are talking about a very small minority [criticizing the team]. I think the other ones, they know. I think they have enjoyed a lot the way we have played and dominated games this year. And I think we have proven that." Arteta acknowledged that there is definitely room for improvement, especially against teams that employ a deep defensive block. "The low block demands a different kind of game to the high block. A team that is constantly putting the ball in the last line. It's different," he explained, as his side gears up to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. Goalkeeper David Raya joined the conversation, downplaying any frustrations among the players regarding the critiques. He pointed out that their record speaks volumes. "People have their own opinions. We have our own opinion. At the end of the day, we have lost one game in 11 this season and if you call that boring or irritating, I don't know what to say," he remarked. Raya emphasized the joy of playing the game, stating, "We enjoy playing football. We enjoy going out there every single day to win football matches, and that's the most important thing."