Arteta identifies the Arsenal player on whom the whole coaching staff would place their title-winning gambles.
Mikel Arteta stated that Takehiro Tomiyasu was the only player on whom his coaching staff would place their title-winning wager.
Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester City defeated Arsenal 3-1 to seize the initiative in the title chase.
The victory propelled Pep Guardiola’s team to the top of the table on goal differential, despite having played one more game than Arsenal.
Manchester scored the scoring in the first half when Kevin de Bruyne lofted a shot over Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale thanks to a sloppy backpass by Tomiyasu.
Bukayo Saka’s penalty three minutes before halftime gave Arsenal a merited equalizer.
In the second half, though, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scored to give City an unassailable lead.
Arteta’s backing of Tomiyasu
After Tomiyasu’s error against City on Wednesday, Arteta has backed him.
The Arsenal manager stated that Tomiyasu was the player in whom he and his coaching team had the most faith to produce a ‘title-winning clearance’
In a news conference prior to Arsenal’s Saturday match against Aston Villa, Arteta stated, “I think if we had a bet of all the staff and players at Colney and said, ‘Right, if someone has to do a clearance for us to win the league tomorrow, we have to pick one player, we’d all choose Tomiyasu.
“All of us.
“But this is football and these things happen, it doesn’t matter whether you are 22, 28 or 31.
“And the end of the day the kids can make mistakes and the more senior players as well. And we have made mistakes.
“Fortunately, it hasn’t cost us many points but we have made quite a lot.”
Arsenal might momentarily reclaim first place if they avoid loss against Villa, who are coached by Unai Emery, Arteta’s predecessor.
