Matthew Upson Assesses Arsenal’s Attacking Style After Champions League Defeat

Former Arsenal centre-back Matthew Upson has characterized Mikel Arteta’s squad as “a tiny bit one dimensional” at present, an attribute he believes allowed Inter Milan to dictate terms in their Champions League loss on Wednesday. “I don’t think they ran out of ideas,” Upson commented on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. “But they needed something different.” Upson further explained that Arsenal currently displays a slight lack of versatility. He noted that while the team has heavily focused on increasing physicality and improving their set-plays, their true effectiveness lies in their open play, where they are capable of dismantling opposing teams. He described their performance as “phenomenal” when they succeed in getting teams “penned in” and moving the ball swiftly, establishing a strong rhythm. He affirmed that “When they play like that, they can give anyone a game.” However, Upson observed that this particular facet of their play has somewhat diminished and is “not as prevalent as it was.” He suggested that this shift towards being “a bit one dimensional” inadvertently enabled Inter to “showcase their defensive skills,” as it played directly into their strengths. Despite these tactical observations, Upson praised the team’s resolve, stating, “It was still a good performance in terms of spirit and attitude. They didn’t give up.”