Mikel Arteta is allowed to learn, but time won’t wait for him | Barney Ronay

<p>Not until the second half with his side a goal down did the manager fully commit to attacking Manchester City </p><p>A minute before half‑time, with Arsenal 1-0 down, still a little clogged in&nbsp;midfield but pressing hard, an unseen brass band somewhere behind the press box began playing a jaunty, oddly mocking version of “No no, no no no no, no no no no, no no there’s no limits”.</p><p>The band had vanished by the time the players trooped off. Did it ever really exist? Was it another passing apparition in a wild, gripping, at times occasionally hallucinogenic game notable for the sight of two of the great control managers slightly losing the run of themselves, like a pair of chess nerds out there having a high-speed, full-contact game of draughts, pieces scattered, formations endlessly rejigged, Pep going full Pulis, Mikel Arteta chucking every attacking weapon into the breach, going after the last column of tanks with a soup ladle.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/21/mikel-arteta-arsenal-pep-guardiola-manchester-city-premier-league">Continue reading...</a>