Mikel Arteta has responded to Bayern Munich’s claims that Arsenal relied on set pieces and long balls to beat them in the Champions League.
The Gunners ran out 3-1 winners at the Emirates Stadium in midweek, and they top the league table with five wins from five on the continent.
However, their style of play did not impress their opposition, with the Bundesliga champions, beaten for the first time this term, furious at the manner at which they had been defeated.
It led to Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich claiming that Arsenal “rely on set pieces” and “love to play long balls”.
“I think PSG were the toughest [opponents so far], especially the way they play football,” Kimmich said.
“‘Arsenal is completely different. They rely on set-pieces. They love to play the long balls, they love to fight for the second balls, it was a completely different game.
“Against PSG, it’s more a football game. Today, it was not so much about football, it was about game management, it was more about the duels.”
When Kimmich’s comments were put to Arteta on Friday, the Arsenal boss shrugged them off.
“When everything becomes man-to-man and the way they are with their full-backs, the way we do what we did in terms of rotation, they create a game that has very long sequences of passes,” the Spaniard explained.
“So I know what he’s saying, so that’s fine, it’s part of the game. I think the game is provoked in the manner that both teams play, so it’s very understandable.”
Arsenal are the only team left in the Champions League to have won every single game so far, and goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli gave them all three points against Bayern.
Lennart Karl equalised for the visitors with a well-taken goal on 32 minutes, but the home side roared back to secure victory.
The tricky tests are coming thick and fast for the Gunners, who face second-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, with the Blues looking to cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League.
