Richard Keys slams "nonsense" Mikel Arteta claim in fresh blast at Arsenal boss
Richard Keys has slammed Mikel Arteta for making "nonsense comments" about his Arsenal tactics.
Arteta has made some tweaks to his system this season as Arsenal attempt to mount another Premier League title challenge after finishing second last term. However, despite picking up seven points in their first three games, they have failed to convince with injuries hampering their start and drew their last league game 2-2 with Fulham.
Arsenal have completely revamped their midfield with the signings of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz and the sale of Granit Xhaka, but ex-Chelsea man Havertz has already come in for criticism from supporters. New signing Jurrien Timber is set for a lenthy absence after suffering an ACL injury in their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest.
Asked about his tactics and experimenting in recent games ahead of Arsenal's game against Manchester United on Sunday, Arteta said: "I think we discuss formations in a different way. The other day there were 36 different formations in the match [against Fulham ]. Against Manchester City 43.
"I don't know what formation we're talking about. For me it's something very different maybe from the ways that you look.
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"I played different against Manchester City and there were 43 different formations. Every morning I come from my house to Colney. Sometimes I leave at six and I need to go to the windscreen because it's icey. At six o'clock normally I go Finchley Road and then the A41 because it's faster.
"Now Finchley Road is 20 miles per hour so sometimes I take a back door. But then I go on the M25. But depending on if it's a school ride I take one exit. If it's after seven o'clock I take a different exit and then I go. One day I have a flat tyre, what do I do? Maybe I have to replace it because there's a garage there.
"So every game is a different story guys. A different story."
Keys slammed Mikel Arteta's "nonsense" comments ahead of Arsenal's game against Manchester United (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Keys has branded Arteta's comments "nonsense", claiming the Arsenal boss is making things needlessly complicated.
"When I saw that I was totally bemused," the beIN Sports presenter said of Arteta's statement. "He's saying when they played Manchester City there were 46 different formations on the pitch.
"Come on! Then in the next game against Fulham there were 36? It's just nonsense! That can only baffle staff. Of course you can play the same system as you had last year, you just put different personnel into those positions. This is a case of too clever by half in my view.
"I think he will start to lose Arsenal fans if he's not too careful. He's not a professor. He's not changing the game. He will have to accept there are basics by which we've all had to abide by since the year dot.
"It's basic, it's not as complicated as he wants to try to make it."
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