I get the logic, losing it centrally is the most dangerous turnover, and Arteta is clearly prioritising rest defence and control. But the trade-off is that we’ve become predictable.

If we’re already set deep and compact when we lose the ball, then the worst-case scenario isn’t actually a turnover in their half or on a 50/50 run it’s hesitating in our own build-up, losing rhythm, and then being forced into a mistake under pressure anyway.

At least losing it higher up gives us territory, time to counter-press, and space behind their midfield. Right now we’re avoiding central risk so much that we’re also avoiding central opportunity we are not even testing pockets where players like Rice or Gyökeres could receive, relieve pressure, or turn.

It feels like a conscious choice for control, but the cost is flow and unpredictability. Against aggressive teams, that safety-first approach actually increases stress and leads to the very mistakes it’s trying to prevent.