Gary Lineker, a legendary player for Barcelona and the England national team, has criticized Mikel Arteta, suggesting that he is employing tactical measures reminiscent of Alex Ferguson in the ongoing race for the Premier League title.
Arsenal stands as the frontrunner to clinch the league trophy for the first time since 2004, currently holding a nine-point lead at the top of the standings with just seven matches left in the season.
Despite their advantageous position, Arteta is exercising caution, particularly after Arsenal's recent defeat in the Carabao Cup final, which spotlighted the significant competition posed by Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola's team, still in contention, has a game in hand and is programmed to face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in an upcoming match that could greatly influence the title outcome.
Recently, several players from Arsenal have withdrawn from international duties, leading to concerns surrounding team fitness as they approach a crucial schedule.
Among those who have opted out are Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, in addition to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
During a discussion on his podcast, Lineker speculated that Arteta might be strategically managing the availability of his players.
"Interestingly, a couple of Arsenal players have pulled out of this squad now... I think Arteta is playing a Sir Alex role here," Lineker stated, referencing Ferguson's famous practice of advising players to forgo international friendlies to maintain fitness for club competitions.
"All managers have done that but generally it's down to the players," Lineker further commented.
He recounted, "The manager would always pressure you to pull out of friendlies in particular. It happened to me a couple of times, and on both occasions, I said no chance."
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