Mikel Arteta sends warning to Bernd Leno after mistake against Rapid Vienna
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Bernd Leno’s mistake allowed Taxiarchis Fountas to fire Vienna in front.

Arsenal seemed to have lost their rhythm against Rapid Vienna and a mistake by goalkeeper Bernd Leno nearly cost the side.

Under manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal had a huge success playing out from the back but Leno’s error means that there is a time and place to do it.

Arteta encouraged the goalkeeper and other team players to improve their decision making.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said: ‘We need to understand when we can do that and when we should kick the ball to the stand, which is a big part of what we are trying to do.

‘But to recognise that from the outside is much easier than from inside. He tried to do that, he has the courage to do it.

‘We have been very successful at doing it as well with the amount of goals that we have scored even in important games.

‘So we need to find the right balance, but I will keep encouraging them to do it in the right moments.’

Arteta continued: ‘Yeah absolutely, but they will understand as well better and better the type of balls we have to play in those areas and to who in relation to where the pressure is coming and the type of distances that you can manage from the opponent.

‘And after that everything will be better. But obviously it’s a split second that you have to make a decision, you have to get the right touch, the right pass, and the opponents as well are intuitive and they are waiting for that.

‘So, again, it’s something that we have to keep working on, because if we want to play the way I want to it’s necessary that the keeper is involved in our build-up play.’

 

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