Gary Neville says Mikel Arteta has created a 'problem' for himself at Arsenal that Sir Alex Ferguson once had
Mikel Arteta could not have asked for more from his Arsenal side in their opening game against Coventry City.
The Gunners didn’t even have to get out of second gear to batter Frank Lampard’s side, who were convincingly beaten 3-0.
It was so comfortable for Arsenal that nobody even thought about the three huge players who missed the game due to injuries: Bruno Guimaraes, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
That shows the level of depth in the squad, but Gary Neville thinks that is a problem.
Gary Neville says Mikel Arteta has created a problem for himself at Arsenal
Arsenal have one of the best squads in Europe right now.
The Gunners have two incredible players in every position on their pitch, and that will help them stay consistent even when they have injuries.
However, big numbers mean big competition, and with the Premier League only allowing eight outfield players on the bench, a few names miss out every weekend.
Neville thinks that is a big problem for Arteta because he will have to tell some players they will not be involved before every game, even if they do everything right in training.
Sir Alex Ferguson apparently faced the same issue at Manchester United many years ago, and he felt that was the hardest thing to do at the time.
Neville said on Sky Sports: “He has created a real problem for himself in the sense that, actually, Sir Alex Ferguson used to say, the hardest thing was leaving those players out every week.
“He’s going to have to do the same. I said to him off camera, what a squad he has built here. If he puts another forward into that, (puffs his cheeks).”
Gary Neville is right, Mikel Arteta could annoy a few players
Arteta named a very strong squad for the game against Coventry City, but a few players who were involved will have to settle for a spot at home very soon.
That’s because Guimaraes, Saliba, Timber and Ezri Konsa will all likely come into the squad when they are ready.
To accommodate them, Arsenal will have to leave a few of their players from last night out, which would be heartbreaking as they are all incredible players.
That is why Arteta is asking the Premier League to increase the squad size, but it doesn’t look like the decision-makers will oblige.
Neville is right; the Arsenal boss will have a problem as the season goes on, and the only way he can avoid it is if he sells a few players before the window shuts.
