3 changes Mikel Arteta needs to make after Man City defeat

Mikel Arteta was thoroughly schooled by his teacher last night, as Pep Guardiola delivered a tactical masterclass to snatch the league title away from Arsenal and put themselves in the driving seat at the business end of the season.

The game showed City at their refined best, with Kevin De Bruyne showing why he is one of the best players the Premier League has ever seen, and with Erling Haaland in front of him, he has a partner who is gobbling up chances and ripping up the records.

For all of City’s magnificence, Arsenal’s limp performance can’t be overlooked. From the minute City scored, they looked overwhelmed, and the distance between the two teams became very evident. But, it’s now on Arteta to change and adapt.

3 changes Mikel Arteta needs to make after Man City defeat

1. Leandro Trossard has to play

Trossard has slotted into Arteta’s way of playing with ease. He looks like a typical Arsenal player, and last night grabbed his eighth assist for the club.

He was one of the few who could leave Manchester with his head held high as his bravery shone through. The Belgian was one of the few players who wanted the ball and wanted to attack City.

Against Chelsea, he must play from the start, ahead of Gabriel Jesus who has disappointed in two critical games for Arsenal. He has shown that he can thrive in the false nine position or on either wing, and his inclusion is an opportunity for Arteta to inject some freshness and control into a side that has gone stale.

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2. Rob Holding has to be dropped

The warning signs were showcased over the last few weeks, but Wednesday night was a complete disaster for Rob Holding. Arsenal fans have always known and accepted his limited ability on the ball, but this game showed that he’s not capable of doing the fundamentals at this level.

His indecision is causing big problems for Ben White and Gabriel, who don’t know from one minute to the next whether he’s going to attack or sit deep, and against City, he made the wrong decision more often than not.

Arteta may be limited in the options he has available, but he learnt from Pep, who is the master at getting creative with his squad, and if he wants to turn things around, it is an absolute must to address this area.

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3. Reiss Nelson deserves a start

Reiss Nelson grabbed the headlines against Bournemouth and provided Arsenal with one of the biggest moments of the season, and has looked good every time he has come on since.

His physical development has enabled him to become a more mature player, free from the threat of being knocked off the ball, and it has given him a sense of bravery that we hadn’t previously seen from him at a first-team level with Arsenal.

Against City, we saw the same again. He was tenacious, daring and scrappy as he ran at defenders and created doubt. If anything, he should have been brought on earlier in a second half that was filled with dead possession.

With Bukayo Saka’s form dipping badly since the international break, Arteta should give Nelson the start, give Saka a rest and remind him that his spot in the starting XI isn’t guaranteed, no matter how good he’s been all season.

The league may now be in City’s hands, but Arsenal can still finish with 90 points, and Arteta will want to finish as strongly as possible and bring that end-of-season form into 2023/24.