Mikel Arteta was forced to sub on some of his best players during the dead rubber game between his team and PSV in the Champions League this evening, and the decision was questioned by journalist Charles Watts.
Arteta’s team started the evening with the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Ben White, and Gabriel Jesus on the bench.
These are some of his most important players at the moment and he felt he did not have to field them for an unimportant game.
But his team struggled and there was a clear lack of chemistry among the players who started the fixture.
Arsenal struggled to create chances and PSV were on top of most of the good things that happened in the game.
The Dutchmen earned a deserved 1-1 draw, but in the second half, Arteta tried to go for the win and subbed on the above-mentioned players.
It was a risk because they could have been injured and Watts tweeted:
“I will never understand those subs. It just feels like such an unnecessary risk.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
We did not have to field our best team for the game against PSV because it was not a match we had to win.
Thankfully, none of the key men have suffered a serious injury in the game.
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Something is seriously lacking in Arteta’s thinking and situation analysis. If a dead rubber game is not right to field academy high achievers, then when are they ever going to get an opportunity to grow into the first team setup? Arteta, like Maurinho, is incapable of promoting new talent. He is a money spender who only sees talent in other teams.
I would like to believe that Arteta has more of Arsenal DNA than to rely on cheque book managing like Mourinho who I can’t stand. Unfortunately, I can’t back Arteta on this one. It’s very strange and irrational
Pre Chelsea Mourinho wasn’t a chequebook manager and since joining Chelsea which manager hasn’t been a chequebook manager, lol?
Oh my god Yesterday the same thing I wrote in comment on the post after squad selection and Admin did not approve or publish my comment.
Lampard? He promoted a bunch of kids, like 7 or 8 of them, the most by any Chelsea manager. Mason Mount, Reece James and Marc Guehi are a few notable ones
Reply to Sid above
A big mystery as to why these young players, didn’t get 30 minutes in a game that meant absolutely nothing at all. EVERY first team regular should have been rested.
Yes, that’s what I’ve been saying, Show me whom Arteta has unearth from academy star to first team regular. None and as he’s been in charge for 5 years, I can’t see these young talents in the Arsenal first team. He found Saka, Martineli, Smith-Rowe, Saliba whom he didn’t fancy at first, Willock, Bolagun, Martinez he sold and it will continue. 5 years one trophy and still he doesn’t seem to build a side with these young talents. Bring in the young guns to push the establish first team regulars. People like Saka, Odegaard and Co must know one bad game after another and your place in the first team is under threat