Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal fans to remain “tranquilo” about the club’s new-look midfield despite fears they lack sufficient physicality after being beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in New York.
Arteta started new signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz together alongside Martin Odegaard in a 4-3-3 shape with the club’s third arrival, Jurrien Timber, drifting into central positions from right-back but Arsenal struggled to produce their best.
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Granit Xhaka left the club earlier this summer to join Bayer Leverkusen in a deal which could be worth up to £21 million ($27m) and ahead of their final preseason friendly in the United States against Barcelona in Los Angeles, Arteta played down criticism over his new-look team’s performance.
“We have to find the right balance but a year ago Granit could never play as an attacking midfielder,” he said. “Let’s try to do the work.
“It’s the first time we played with four players inside and three of them had never played together, ever. So: tranquilo.
“Day by day, keep doing the right things and give people the opportunity to settle in and we will be fine.
“You use the word ‘physical’ but if I put Granit and Kai [together] who is more physical? Granit? Yeah? Havertz is 1.91 metres. It depends what physical is.
“Physical is to run, to run in behind, run forward, to tackle, to defend. He will fit in with the qualities we have for sure and the good thing is that we have options in midfield.
“When we want a game to become more physical we have the options to be very, very physical so we have the right options.”
