Man City vs Arsenal: Man United Legend Applauds Mikel Arteta’s ‘Jose Mourinho’ Like Tactics in Draw

• Peter Schmeichel has heaped praise on Mikel Arteta for his 'park the bus' style
• The Arsenal boss came under heavy backlash for his tactics against Man City
• But the Man United icon believes Arteta was smart with his game approach

Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, has come out in support of Mikel Arteta's tactical approach as Arsenal secured a crucial draw against Manchester City in Sunday's box-office Premier League encounter.

The match, held on Easter Sunday, March 31, held significant implications for the Premier League title race, with Arsenal eventually relinquishing their top spot to Liverpool following the goalless stalemate at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite leaving City's home ground without a victory, a place that has posed considerable challenges for his side in recent times, Arteta faced criticism for employing a defensive strategy reminiscent of Jose Mourinho's tactics.

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While the goalless draw saw the Gunners surrender their lead to Liverpool, who now sit two points clear at the top after a comeback win against Brighton at Anfield, Arteta's team can take pride in their ability to stifle City's attack, with goalkeeper David Raya rarely tested and star striker Erling Haaland kept at bay.

United hero praises Arteta's tactics

Although some have criticised the north London club for their lack of attacking initiative, Schmeichel, an icon of the Premier League era, argued that Arteta's cautious approach was the most prudent strategy for such a high-stakes encounter, especially considering City's dominance over them in previous seasons.

"Go back to April last year, Arsenal lost 4-1 and got played off the park," Schmeichel, who was watching the game for BBC Radio 5, said, as quoted by Euro Foot.

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"They came here today with a clear plan to play against Man City and they succeeded. Was it great? No, but they shouldn't care about that."

Notably, this was Arsenal's first non-defeat at City since a 2-2 draw in 2016, marking a significant milestone for the North London club, per Arsenal Insider.

Guardiola slammed for taking 'camera' glory

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has faced accusations of "doing it for the cameras" following an animated lecture directed towards Jack Grealish, as highlighted by Sports Brief.

Cameras captured the scene as the Spaniard approached Grealish, delivering a lecture under the spotlight of the stadium, a moment that left beIN Sports presenter Richard Keys visibly irritated.

Guardiola's lecturing didn't end there, as he also engaged in a brief discussion with Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes before turning his attention to his striker Erling Haaland, who appeared subdued throughout the match.