NBC Sports pundit Tim Howard thinks Mikel Arteta has to continue to be himself after his Arsenal side's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in midweek.
City gained ground on the Gunners after Wednesday's 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. Bukayo Saka had equalised from the penalty spot after De Bruyne had put City ahead but Grealish and Haaland bagged in the second half to secure Pep Guardiola's side all three points.
City are now top of the table on goal difference with Arsenal returning to action when they play Aston Villa on Saturday. City, meanwhile, head to Nottingham Forest on Saturday as they bid to continue their revival.
Howard, the former Manchester United, Everton and USMNT goalkeeper, thinks Arteta needs to keep showing passion on the touchline after an altercation with De Bruyne during the game. The Belgian took issue with Arteta kicking the ball away in order to allow for his team to reset before a throw-in.
Arteta has taken some criticism this season for his fiery nature in the dugout. And Howard's thoughts on the matter are clear.
"There was the coming together with De Bruyne at one point, coming out of his technical area," Howard said on NBC. "It's OK for him to reel it in but he still has to be himself.
"If this is the way he is going to manage his team and then he comes off the boil, the team is going to see that so whatever facade he has going on, whether it is real or not he has to keep that up. So even though he was a little bit more tame today, I think that he has always got to be himself."
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