Arteta hits back at Arsenal style critics: It's a very small minority

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has brushed off the debate about his side's playing style, insisting that only a very small minority are criticising the team. The Gunners have collected ten wins from eleven matches this season, yet their attacking output has not been especially prolific and deep-lying defences have caused them problems.

• Arsenal have won ten of eleven games this season but scored only eleven goals in seven Premier League matches.
• Arteta believes the criticism comes from a very small minority and highlights his team's possession and chances.
• A late goal from substitute Noni Madueke sealed a narrow win over Nottingham Forest.
• David Raya says the players enjoy competing and are not bothered by questions about their style.
• The Gunners are yet to score from a set-piece this campaign after excelling in that area last season.

Winning start without the attacking sparkle

Arsenal have produced strong results since the start of the campaign, but the goals have not flowed as freely as in recent seasons. Eleven goals in seven Premier League fixtures is a modest return for a title contender, and the team has struggled to break down opponents who sit deep and protect their box.

The latest example came against Nottingham Forest, when substitute Noni Madueke scored in the 80th minute to secure a narrow victory. It was another hard-fought win that underlined Arsenal's difficulty turning long spells of possession into clear chances against compact defences.

Arteta defends what he sees on the pitch

I don't have that impression because I heard that the style was incredible. We have scored so many goals, we have more possession, more shots, different players participating, no goals on set-pieces. So the story is completely different to last year.

The Spanish coach believes the narrative has shifted compared to the previous campaign, when Arsenal won the Premier League title thanks to a rock-solid defence and a remarkable set-piece record. This season the team has yet to score in that situation, something Arteta presents as further evidence of how their attacking approach has evolved.

The challenge of facing low blocks

Arteta acknowledged that playing against a low block demands a different kind of game than facing a high press. He explained that a team constantly sending the ball into the final line creates a different scenario, one that requires alternative solutions from his players.

Even so, the manager admitted Arsenal could have done things better against Nottingham Forest and that the improvements are in their own hands. His message was one of constructive self-criticism: no drama over results, but full focus on the details that decide such tight matches.

David Raya responds to the criticism

People have their own opinions. We have our own opinion. At the end of the day, we have lost one game in 11 this season and if you call that boring or irritating, I don't know what to say.

The Spanish goalkeeper said the squad enjoys playing football and going out to win every single match. For Raya, the most important thing is the team's mentality on the pitch, and outside opinions do not affect their daily work.

His words reflect the mood inside the London dressing room, where results back up the confidence in the job being done. The keeper has been a key figure in Arsenal's solid defensive start as the club continues to compete at the top of the table.

Bayern Munich up next for Arsenal

The debate about style will pause for a few hours: on Wednesday Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the Champions League, a high-level test where the result will matter far more than the aesthetics. It will be a chance to measure the team against a rival unlikely to sit deep in its own half.

Bayern typically offer an open, intense contest, exactly the kind of scenario in which Arteta's Arsenal have looked most comfortable. After Sunday's narrow win, Munich stands as the perfect stage for the Premier League leaders to show their most convincing version.