Mikel Arteta has telling response to Jamie Carragher over Arsenal criticism
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Mikel Arteta has dismissed suggestions that he employs overly cautious tactics - and maintains his approach represents the most offensive-minded philosophy in the Premier League.
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both suggested Arsenal adopted a defensive mindset against Manchester City, claiming the manager applied the "handbrake" through his team selection and tactical approach, as his side claimed a dramatic point through Gabriel Martinelli.
However, speaking ahead of Arsenal's Carabao Cup clash with Port Vale, Arteta delivered a passionate defence of his methods, highlighting how he has assembled an abundance of attacking talent, with even his goalkeepers instructed to play progressively.
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Arteta highlighted players such as goalkeeper David Raya, center-back Gabriel and midfielder Mikel Merino as prime examples of his attack-focused recruitment.
The Gunners manager declared: "For sure, if you look at the players that we have, starting from the keeper, very attacking goalkeeper, the most attacking goalkeeper in the league by far.
"The center backs, the most attacking one, in one phase the most attacking one.
We mainly play with a player on the right-hand side attacking midfield, he played as a nine last year.
"So how attacking that is, more than a nine playing in midfield, I haven't seen it in the league.
So I think we have a lot of attacking, different qualities of attacking players, some of them more talented in some areas than others in relation to the game that we play.
"I think when you look at the winning record on this club, the goals that we scored, the clean sheet that we had, the way we played against Manchester City, in the territory we played against Man City.
Because I had a lot of messages to my phone, they could not believe what we did to Manchester City
People, coaches, managers, CEOs, presidents, so proud.
"I look at the players and the people around