It was refreshing to see Arteta finally rotating the Squad.
As we may all know now, the Gunners got their Premier League campaign back on track with a comprehensive win against Nottingham Forest. The win was a first in a while for the Gunners after a few game weeks of despair in the PL.
This poor run had seen us fall nine points behind the table topping Liverpool and meant that we could not afford any slip ups if we are going to be thereabout for the title come the end of the campaign.
Ahead of the Forest game, they were no margins for any more errors due to how fatal dropped points could be for our season. This is a reason why we would’ve been shocked to see Arteta go with a much changed starting lineup against the Tricky Trees.
A few eyebrows would’ve been raised at the amount of changes that was made by Mikel Arteta. We have come to know the Spaniard as a manager who doesn’t like too many changes being made to his starting eleven, he prefers a settled group of players to play consistently week in week out with few adjustments.
This has made him a subject of critique at times due his late substitutions and minimum changes to the starting lineup. Against Nottingham Forest we saw Arteta making five changes to the team that played Chelsea a fortnight ago, bringing in the likes of Jorginho, Jesus, Merino, Calafiori and Trossard into the side.
It didn’t take long for one of those changes to make a minor contribution when Jorginho lifted the ball into Saka in the build up to the first goal.
We have been clamoring for this sort of squad management from the boss so that we can be proactive in managing our injuries, a player like Havertz who has played every game this season needs more rest and I’m glad that Arteta handed this to him and some other players against Forest!
BENJAMIN KENNETH.
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This rotation was a shocker, it must have taken Forest by surprise, but the gaffer loves these mind games
Just exactly what he needs to do more. The lack of rotation has partly been responsible for the too many injuries. Let him keep it up. It gives confidence to the players
I think he has rotated in the past but hasn’t had enough players available through injury or quality to do this as regularly as he and the first XI would want
Havertz.
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Merino. Partey.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
My predicted line up for Sporting
yep sounds about right, but in Arteta preferred 4-3-3
was Rice a precautionary rest, or could there be a proper injury there?
It was a perfect example of a manager using his squad against NF and when it was announced on JA the negativity was incredible.
Rice rested his injured foot – Havertz rested after his international games – Partey brought on for just 45 minutes – both Timber and Califiori starting then rested – Zinchenko given game time – two excellent substitutions in Sterling and Nwaneri combining for a great goal – Martinelli rested completely – Kiwior given game time.
A terrific win and players raring to go against Sporting!!
Well done Mikel and our SQUAD of players.
It just shows you that the past and present excuses of a weak squad are futile. Nobody would have that as a first choice midfield and Striker. Its about trust and playing the way that suits the players we have on the pitch. The last two league campaigns and the start of this have been scattered with lame excuses of weak teams. When the truth is, the system was the problem. Too flimsy and too slow. I hope Arteta has learnt, but it looks like, if he has, its come too late for this season. We have given an average Liverpool an head start, they didn’t deserve and all too easy.
oh and Odegaard has been out for too long, and we shot ourselves in the foot with 3 red cards (two from winning positions)
Odegaard back transformed Arsenal vs Forest
it is about the system, the system works superbly with Odegaard but stuttered without him – yes he is that good
Odergaard was in the team, the last two seasons capitulations. There was other lame excuses then.