Arne Slot gets bashed for something Mikel Arteta is also guilty of at Arsenal - opinion
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Arne Slot is coming under heavy criticism from some Liverpool supporters and pundits for adopting a highly pragmatic, defensive approach in the recent goalless draw against Arsenal, yet the article argues that this is precisely the sort of tactical shift Mikel Arteta himself made earlier in his Arsenal tenure. While Slot has been branded negative and overly cautious after Liverpool sat deep, conceded possession and focused on defensive organisation at the Emirates, the piece points out that Arteta was praised for doing something very similar when he transformed Arsenal from an expansive but fragile team into a more solid, results-first side.
The article notes that Slot had previously spoken about wanting his Liverpool team to play attacking football, which has fuelled accusations of hypocrisy now that he has set his side up in such a reactive way. However, the author stresses that Arteta also talked extensively about attacking principles before accepting that Arsenal needed to become more pragmatic, especially in big games, by sacrificing some entertainment for control and clean sheets. That evolution was widely accepted as part of Arsenal’s growth, and the piece suggests Slot deserves the same understanding as he adapts to circumstances, injuries and a squad still in transition.
Ultimately, the article argues that both managers are guilty only of doing what top-level coaches must do: adjusting ideals to reality. Slot’s “park the bus” display at Arsenal is framed not as a betrayal of his philosophy but as a necessary step to stabilise Liverpool and secure an important point away from home. The criticism he is receiving is presented as inconsistent when compared with the way Arteta’s similar compromises were framed as maturity and tactical nous. In essence, Arne Slot is being bashed for a pragmatic approach that has already been normalised and even celebrated when used by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.