Ronan Mullen

Now, maybe the way they're playing is far too conservative, but I do think some of the criticism of Arteta's team selections and substitutes, it's become a little bit clichéd and OTT.

It doesn't stand up to total scrutiny.

Like, if you've midfield three of Odegaard, who's very front-facing, Rice, to be fair, has license, Zubamendi, and then Sakhis, Jesus Trossard...

Like, that's not a guy who's shutting up shop.

That's not... You know, conservative, I think that's a bit OTT.

Yeah, it's interesting because they should have lots of redeeming features.

I mean, you should be looking at that right-hand side of Odegaard behind Saka and it should be terrorising defenders.

Yeah, like what's gone wrong with Odegaard?

Because, I mean, he's such talent and he's like captain.

So obviously he's got something about him as a personality.

And yet increasingly the criticism of Odegaard would be, particularly in the big games, too much time, coming deep, nice touches, enjoying himself, but actually not affecting the game further up the pitch enough.

I just don't see that anymore with Arsenal.

I don't see that fluidity.

Yeah, it's really interesting because that's why when Eze joined, and especially when he gave him a couple of games at 10...

And Eze's doing Eze things.

I thought, oh, this team's about to, they're just about to really just stamp their authority all over this league.

And he's going to flourish.

The defence will still be fine.

And the handbrake's coming off a little bit.

The confidence will grow.