Mikel Arteta has been hailed by former Arsenal star Nigel Winterburn ahead of the Gunners’ Champions League clash against Lille.
Arteta, who recently signed a contract extension keeping him at the Emirates Stadium until 2030, was bold with his changes against Leeds United at the weekend.
The Gunners came from behind to beat Leeds 2-1, with substitute Bruno Guimaraes scoring the winning goal.
Winterburn, speaking exclusively to GB News, felt Leeds did an excellent job but could not handle Arsenal’s “aggression” after falling behind.
He said: “Leeds overloaded the areas Arsenal attacked and smothered them, forcing Arsenal to play sideways and backwards. When Arsenal tried the final pass, Leeds intercepted it and slowed them down.
“Arsenal don’t mind going back and trying the other side, but that allowed Leeds to switch across and smother that area too.
“When Leeds took the lead, I felt Arsenal played with more aggression and took more risks.
“They got the equaliser, and Arteta’s changes swung the game in Arsenal’s favour. They then saw the game out quite comfortably.”
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Winterburn felt the whole team worked brilliantly together, digging deep to secure the three points against a Leeds side that were undefeated in the league heading into the game.
He told the People’s Channel through CasinoKings: “Overall, it was more workmanlike than dynamic.
“Looking back over a season, you get plenty of performances like that, even when I played, but you tend to forget them.”
Arsenal will be without Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi against Lille, who have both been sidelined with ankle injuries they sustained in a training session following the Gunners’ win against Leeds.
Hincapie was captured being helped off the pitch by third-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier, with Arteta describing the situation as “two very unfortunate actions”.
He said: “We had a training session planned after the game for the players who didn’t have enough minutes to get everybody in the right rhythm. And in two very unfortunate actions, we lost two players.
“It’s far from ideal. They’re both going to miss tomorrow’s match, that’s for sure.
“They’re going to have a further scan, and probably tomorrow we’ll know more, and then we’ll see how they’re going to go. Piero’s one looks a little bit more serious.”
William Saliba could return in the coming weeks, having not featured this season after suffering a back injury while playing for France at the World Cup.
He has been training alone at the club’s London Colney training base as he rebuilds his fitness and strength.
Commenting on his anticipated return, Arteta said: “He has been on the grass for over a week now.
“He’ll be managing that load, and how many repetitions and sessions in a row he can do, and he’s building his capacity to good standards.”
Arsenal kick off tonight against Lille at 8pm.
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