“It’s really interesting how he’s got there” - Jaime Carragher explains why Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ‘morphing’ into a Jose Mourinho type manager

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is displaying similarities with Jose Mourinho. The Spanish manager saw his team held to a 2-2 draw by Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday, October 27, in the Premier League.

The Gunners started the game well, taking the lead through Bukayo Saka in the ninth minute. However, Virgil van Dijk drew the visitors level nine minutes later.

New signing Mikel Merino sent the north London side ahead three minutes before the break. Arsenal attempted to see out the game in the second half, but the tactics backfired, with Mohamed Salah stealing a point for Liverpool in the 81st minute.

Speaking after the match to Sky Sports, Carragher insisted that Arteta's approach cost the Gunners the game.

“Mikel Arteta is slowly morphing into a Jose Mourinho type of manager and nobody really thought that would happen. I just think it’s really interesting how he’s got there. You see today, 2-1 up, pressing Liverpool, on top of Liverpool, playing really well. Then they retreat in the second half,” said Carragher.

He continued:

“Now, I know they had a couple of injuries at the back, but they’ve still got the midfielders playing, still got their attacking players playing, who you think ‘can you get on the ball, can you try and take the sting out of the pressure you’re under?’ That’s come from the manager, but it happens too often now."

Arsenal have now failed to win back-to-back games in the Premier League for the first time since New Year's Eve 2023.

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How many goals have Arsenal scored this season?

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title in the final day of the 2023/24 season, finishing two points behind Champions Manchester City. The Gunners played free-flowing, attacking football that captured the imagination of fans.

The north London side scored 91 goals in the league, second only to City (96). Mikel Arteta wanted to sign a new No. 9 over the summer, and apparently had his eyes on Benjamin Sesko.

However, Arsenal failed to convince the player to move to the Emirates, with Sesko signing a new deal with RB Leipzig instead. The Gunners have had a decent start to the new campaign, winning five of their nine games in the Premier League.

The north London side have scored 17 goals, three less than the Cityzens and are now third in the league. Overall, Mikel Arteta's team have scored 25 goals from 13 games in all competitions.