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Soccer

Club legend blames manager Mikel Arteta for Arsenal's recent struggles

Club legend blames manager Mikel Arteta for Arsenal's recent strugglesDAZN

Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is to blame for the team's recent run of mixed results. 

The Gunners are currently four points ahead of Manchester City in second in the Premier League table, but Pep Guardiola's team have played one game less than their North London rivals and are considered favourites to win the title.

Following back-to-back draws against Liverpool and West Ham United over the past two weeks, some fans and former players are beginning to question whether Arsenal can hold their nerve in what is set to be a tense conclusion to the season. 

When speaking LegalSportsBook.com, former Arsenal midfielder Petit belives Arteta's reluctance to rotate players is costing his team vital points when it comes to pursuing the club's first Premier League trophy since 2004.

"Recently yes," Petit said when asked whether Arteta's lack of squad rotation is to blame. 

"I think it was the same against Liverpool. He took some time to make substitutions and some players should have been involved earlier. The likes of Trossard for example, who I think has been brilliant since he signed for Arsenal.

"He has his first XI in his mind and he wants to stay with them until the end because he thinks they have been unbelievable since the beginning of the season.

"He’s probably thinking, ‘Why should I change them?’ Because they were winning game after game? I can understand, but in the meantime, as he’s such a young manager, maybe he has to learn as well from that.”

The moment of truth for Arsenal is likely to come on April 26 when they travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in what is likely to be a Premier League title decider. 

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