Pundit tears into Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and fires brutal 'copying' jibe

Former England international Gabby Agbonlahor has taken aim at Mikel Arteta for “copying” Pep Guardiola’s tactics.

At his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Arsenal boss attracted criticism for revealing how much he changes his team during games. The Gunners were still recovering from the setback of drawing 2-2 at home to Fulham last weekend.

«The other day there were 36 different formations in the match (against Fulham),” Arteta said ahead of Sunday's Manchester United win. “Against Manchester City, 43 (different formations). I don't know what formation we're talking about. For me, it's something very different, maybe from the ways that you look.

»I played differently against Manchester City and there were 43 different formations. Every game is a different story guys — a different story."

However, ex-Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor is one of the critics refusing to buy Arteta’s in-game tinkering. The 36-year-old has gone as far as to suggest that the Spaniard only addressed that point to draw comparisons to Pep Guardiola.

Arteta served his apprenticeship under Guardiola for three years as a first-team coach before landing the Arsenal job. While the Gunners boss has, at times, struggled to escape his former mentor’s shadow, Agbonlahor is convinced he is trying too hard to emulate him.

“Timber is injured, so just play the back four from last season,” the talkSPORT pundit urged Arteta. “Zinchenko, Gabriel, Saliba, White. Play a normal system. It’s the strongest line-up they’ve got.

“It’s quite simple. He’s tried to complicate things. You’re not Pep Guardiola, he’s got to have his own ideas. Stop trying to copy others, and continue with what made you so successful in the first place.”