Overview

• Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Gary Neville criticised Mikel Arteta for starting Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino over Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli against Manchester City.
• Neville predicted the dressing room would be disappointed and warned Arteta could regret not taking the 'handbrake' off in marquee fixtures.
• He added that he is now worried his preseason call that Arsenal would win the title may backfire because he sees familiar patterns from last season.
• Football Insider amplified the warning by framing Arteta’s choices as a potential long‑term cost while also noting Arsenal’s depth and Martinelli’s recent impact as a super‑sub.
• Arsenal‑focused outlets rejected the claims as speculative, citing internal considerations such as Martin Ødegaard’s absence and noting no verified unrest, with attention turning to Newcastle after a 1-1 draw in which City adopted a notably defensive setup.