Jamie Carragher has heavily criticized Arsenal defender Stephan Lichtsteiner as responsible for Sunday 3-1 loss at the Etihad.
The former Liverpool defender said that Lichtsteiner is not good enough and the fact that all Manchester City goals came from his end is proof he is not a player that deserves a starting berth for Arsenal. Carragher further said Shkodran Mustafi has never been good too and were responsible for the Gunners fall.
“Lichtsteiner is not good enough. You could argue because of his age, and Mustafi next to him has never been good enough since the day he walked through the door and that’s the reason why all the goals come down there. To see Arsenal defend like that, there is a big job there for Unai Emery to do. When he first came in, we debated how he wanted to play and he wants to go about it.” Carragher said on Sky Sports.
Manchester City’s strategy to play with wide players further caused problems for the 35-year old defender and Carragher says Pep Guardiola new the weaknesses of the former Juventus man.
“We’re criticising Lichtsteiner, he’s 35 years old but when you play on that pitch, it is massive. We were talking before the game about how Arsenal might set up and possibly using a back five because sometimes you can feel so exposed and alone, you never feel tight as a unit because the pitch is so wide. City played with real wide players and that’s why I go back to if Litch is playing as a full-back and tucking in and he’s then got to go out wide, he’s not going to have the legs to get there. That’s again why I can’t believe he didn’t go with the extra body,” he added.
The retired English footballer defended Unai Emery saying that he needs time and be given room to bring in players who he can trust to implement his football strategies at the Emirates.
“He’s done a few different things since he’s come in at Arsenal, he’s tried different formations at times… But you never feel secure with anything Arsenal do. Any set up the manager does – they went three at the back for a time this season – and everything he tries defensively doesn’t seem to work for them.”
Arsenal will play Huddersfield Town on Saturday.