Mikel Arteta defended his Arsenal side’s tactics against Manchester City and insists he would prefer criticism for getting a result than losing.
Arteta and his team have come in for criticism for their approach to the game against Manchester City following Leandro Trossard’s red card.
The Gunners opted to sit deep and defend their lead against City but drew 2-2 after John Stones’ late equaliser.
Former Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness claimed Arsenal have an “inferiority complex” to Man City while ex Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane criticised their approach as that of having a “small mentality”.
But Arteta insists he is not listening to the noise from the outside and defended his approach in the game.
He said: “It’s a war you cannot win. Don’t get involved in it, it doesn’t make any sense.
“I want to win in the way we prepare the game and the way we want to play for sure, in our way, but understanding the context.
“I want to wear flip-flops and shorts and t-shirts but with this weather, I think I would be very silly to do that.
“People would say ‘Mikel, what are you doing man?’. I’m very brave but tomorrow I am sick.”
On the negativity around his side, Arteta also added: “I prefer this much more than clapping my back after the game and saying well done, we’re going in the right direction. This is why I do what I do.
“This is an emotion I cannot control. I have to be competitive as possible. The reaction of someone else is different.”
