Arteta adopting Ferguson-esque tactics by withdrawing players from international commitments — Lineker

Gary Lineker has made a notable observation, suggesting that Mikel Arteta is employing tactics reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson, as evidenced by the recent spate of Arsenal player withdrawals during the international break.

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Lineker shared his thoughts on The Rest is Football podcast, highlighting the growing number of Arsenal stars who have pulled out of national team duties, which he believes may be a deliberate strategy to conserve key players for crucial upcoming fixtures.

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He stated, "I think Arteta is playing a Sir Alex role here," and pointed out that several high-profile players, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhães, have returned to north London.

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Lineker noted that the withdrawals of Saka and Rice, in particular, are intriguing, as they have joined other players like Saliba and Gabriel in returning to the club.

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Although Arsenal has cited genuine fitness concerns as the reason for the withdrawals, the timing has raised eyebrows, given the critical stage of the Premier League season and the intensifying title race.

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Lineker, drawing from his own experience, explained that such situations are not uncommon, as clubs often seek to protect their players from unnecessary international fixtures, particularly friendlies.

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He recalled that, as a player, his manager would often pressure him to withdraw from friendlies, but he had refused on two occasions, saying "No chance."

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Lineker compared the current situation to Ferguson's approach during his Manchester United tenure, where key players were frequently shielded from international commitments to ensure optimal performance at the club level.

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With Arsenal pushing to secure the league title, managing player fitness has become vital, especially ahead of a decisive run of matches that could define their season.

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The Gunners are facing a strong challenge from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the EPL table, and are also competing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, where they will face Sporting CP and Southampton, respectively.

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Mikel Arteta's team had entered the international break on the back of a defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup finals, making their upcoming matches even more critical.