Jamie Redknapp comments on ‘agitated’ Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, suggests referee action

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Arsenal are into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after beating League One side Port Vale 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Arsenal produced late drama against Manchester City on Sunday, with Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal rescuing a point in a 1-1 draw.

The attention turned to Carabao Cup action on Wednesday night, as Arsenal travelled to take on League One side Port Vale.

This was another frustrating Arsenal display in parts, but summer signing Eberechi Eze opened the scoring before Leandro Trossard added number two late on.

Bukayo Saka was handed a surprise start as Arteta gave minutes to some of his most important players, but it was another unconvincing display.

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Jamie Redknapp on ‘agitated’ Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Arsenal just don’t appear to have consistent fluency going forward, even against a struggling League One side.

Gunners fans have every right to feel a little frustrated, though Mikel Arteta continues to fend off questions about his playing style.

Arteta told The London Evening Standard that he plays with the most attacking goalkeeper in the Premier League and has received praise from CEOs after Arsenal’s display against City.

That may not wash with all supporters, and Jamie Redknapp believes that Arteta has ‘always’ had an ‘edge’ to him.

Redknapp told Sky Sports (24/09, 10:30pm) that Arteta has never looked comfortable on the sidelines and regularly leaves his technical area.

Redknapp feels that Arteta and other managers should be booked for leaving the technical area, adding that he doesn’t like Arteta’s ‘agitated’ demeanour on the sideline.

“I have to be honest, I think there’s always a bit of an edge to him,” said Redknapp.

“I’ve never really seen him comfortable when I watch him on the sideline. In his technical area, he never stays in it. He’s always bouncing around, he’s always agitated, I would find it difficult… I don’t like it.

“You’re meant to stay in your technical area. They should, they should get booked if they come out of it, that’s what they should do,” he added.

Jamie Redknapp on Mikel Arteta’s future as Arsenal boss

For all of the talk around Arsenal’s lack of trophies, Arteta has undeniably done an incredible job since taking over as Gunners boss in 2019.

Finishing second three years in a row may not sound like an achievement, but it’s an enormous improvement from the situation Arteta inherited.

Arteta was backed with big spending over the summer, though, and Redknapp feels the pressure is on.

Redknapp believes Arteta will be under ‘enormous pressure’ at Arsenal if he fails to win a trophy this season.

Redknapp thinks other managers may already be keeping an eye on the Arsenal hot seat, and thinks Arteta must deliver silverware after another summer of big spending.

“I think if he doesn’t, he comes under enormous pressure,” said Redknapp.

“He’s not at the moment, because we’re so early in the season, but if he doesn’t win, then you’d have to say, would another manager… is there anyone else out there who could probably do as well, if not better, with that squad? Because that squad is ready to win.

“You can’t keep throwing money at it, and there will be other managers out there looking at it, thinking ‘if Mikel Arteta can’t do it, there’ll be someone else’.

“That doesn’t mean to say he’s not a good manager. He’s obviously shown that in the past. But, when you’re managing and you’re spending the money that you are, one trophy since 2020 isn’t enough for the enormity of that team,” he added.

Arsenal invested big money in Eberechi Eze, while Martin Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad, and Viktor Gyokeres arrived from Sporting.

Those signings need to help Arsenal take a big step forward this season, and Arteta may need significant silverware to quieten the criticism around his tactical approach.