After last night’s intense match, Mikel Arteta publicly critiqued Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical choices, despite acknowledging the Real Madrid manager’s elite status in world football.
> “Ancelotti is a top coach,” Arteta said, “but he made some mistakes yesterday that altered the game’s momentum.”
Arteta pointed to Ancelotti’s midfield substitutions, specifically removing Kroos and Valverde, which gave Arsenal more control and fluidity in attack. He also criticized Madrid’s decision to drop into a deep defensive shape too early, which allowed Arsenal to push forward aggressively in the final stretch.
> “You can’t afford to give us that much space. Once the tide turned, it was too late for them,” Arteta added.
Although he ended his remarks with praise for Ancelotti’s legacy, Arteta’s comments have stirred debate online — with many fans questioning whether it was fair to call out the Italian publicly. With another potential showdown between the clubs looming, this could be just the beginning of a heated manage
rial rivalry.
