Tony Adams criticized Mikel Arteta’s team selection on Saturday, accusing him of playing into Nottingham Forest’s advantage.
In the aftermath of Arsenal’s match against Nottingham Forest, Tony Adams voiced his concerns over Mikel Arteta’s team selection, suggesting that it played into the hands of their opponents. Without the services of Oleksandr Zinchenko and William Saliba, Arteta decided to shuffle his defensive lineup in a bid to bounce back from their previous defeat to Brighton.
With Thomas Partey deployed as an unorthodox right-back and Ben White partnering Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of the defense, Arteta made some bold choices. Although Kieran Tierney was fit enough to feature on the bench, Jakub Kiwior was handed his first start as a left-back for Arsenal, a decision that raised eyebrows given his lack of experience. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal appeared far from their usual incisive and cohesive selves, with Forest seizing the opportunity.
One particular moment highlighted Adams’ concerns. Morgan Gibbs-White was allowed to sprint unchallenged towards Arsenal’s penalty area, and although it seemed as though his pass was overhit, it fortuitously found the back of the net after Gabriel’s slide tackle deflected off Taiwo Awoniyi’s boot.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Adams expressed his confusion over the team’s defensive vulnerabilities, stating,
“The tackle was unlucky, but both full-backs were out of the game. Arteta went with Partey and Kiwior, and none of them were there. It was a two-on-two situation, or rather, a three-on-two situation, and Forest took advantage.”
Adams further questioned Arteta’s decision-making, particularly regarding the defensive lineup.
“Football is about relationships,” Adams commented. “Ben White has been brilliant on the right-hand side with Saka, and suddenly he’s playing in central defense. And we have Tierney on the bench. What is Arteta trying to achieve with these selections? Does he see Partey playing there next season? Is Ben being considered as a central defender? And is Kiwior truly a left-back? To be honest, I don’t understand it. We’ve been exposed time and time again. It feels like we played right into their hands. We’ve given them an advantage.”
Adams’ critique sheds light on the tactical decisions made by Arteta, with the former Arsenal legend emphasizing the importance of cohesive relationships and expressing his disappointment with the team’s vulnerability.