Everton manager David Moyes defends Mikel Arteta's Arsenal after playing style criticism

[p]Premier League leaders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] have attracted ‌criticism in recent weeks for using set-pieces, especially corner-kick routines, as their go-to strategy to score, sparking ‌debate about its tactical evolution.[/p][p]However, Moyes questioned Arsenal's critics and described [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arteta-mikel/lAbHYaQM/"]Arteta[/a] - ‌a former player under him at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/everton/KluSTr9s/"]Everton[/a] - as a brilliant manager who has kept his ‌team fighting on all four fronts - Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup ‌and League Cup.[/p][p]They are seven points clear of second-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a], who have a game in hand, and face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Pep Guardiola[/a]'s side in the League Cup final at Wembley on March ‌22.[/p][p][b]"You are making it sound as if that's a ⁠problem because they are good at set ‌pieces and they are a strong, physical side,"[/b] Moyes told reporters ahead of Saturday's trip ​to Arsenal.[/p][p]"I don't see any problem with any of that. It's part of the game."[/p][p]Moyes went on to defend tactical diversity, suggesting critics ​of different playing styles were missing the point.[/p][p][b]"If there's this thing out there where everybody has to play the beautiful game and everything has to be perfect, ⁠well if we all do ​that then it would be boring. Football would be boring,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]"Part of the reason you people are talking about it is because it might be slightly different from what we have seen for a few years.[/p][p][b]"It's giving you something to talk ‌about, but I would hate to be going to football matches all the time and seeing football only played the one way. I want teams to play different styles and in different ways."[/b][/p][embed guid="c5359e18-671b-45a5-b6f0-cba1c75ed26d" url="https://x.com/Everton/status/2032396324658618878" social-type="twitter" /][p]Arteta has remained defiant over criticism of Arsenal's set-piece tactics while dismissing accusations of time-wasting from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] boss Fabian Huerzeler earlier this month.[/p][p]Arsenal beat Brighton 1-0 away and although Huerzeler continued to complain about their time-wasting, the German also praised Arteta for what he has achieved this season.[/p][p][b]"I said to Mikel afterwards and during the week that I admire his ‌work. I didn't want to create that noise, I just wanted to make ​my point about how I was feeling. Nothing to do with what ‌they have achieved, it's incredible,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"Arteta is one of the best managers in the world for me, he is a role model. But it is important to say your opinion and not hide your opinion even when you are a smaller club.[/p][p][b]"I texted him saying the same things to ⁠him, that I have huge respect ⁠for everyone at Arsenal. If they ‌win the Premier League, they definitely deserve it."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/everton-KluSTr9s/?mid=4OXbaaaf"]Follow Arsenal vs Everton with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]