Mikel Arteta Explains Odegaard and Rice Substitutions as Arsenal Faces New Injury Concern
Arteta reveals the reason behind replacing key players Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice during Arsenal's draw with Everton, raising fresh injury concerns.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has addressed the surprising decisions to substitute key midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard during their frustrating goalless draw against Everton at the Emirates Stadium. The changes sparked debates among fans, especially as Arsenal missed a vital chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The biggest worry for Arsenal was the withdrawal of Declan Rice with around 30 minutes left in the match. Arteta revealed that Rice had been managing a “niggle” over the past week and signaled that he needed to come off.
“I had to take Declan off because he was feeling something,” Arteta explained after the game. “He’s been playing through it recently, but today he asked to come off, and we couldn’t risk it.”
Rice has been a crucial part of Arsenal’s midfield this season, and his absence was felt as the Gunners struggled to break down a stubborn Everton defense. Arteta will now be hoping the injury is not serious, especially with a packed fixture schedule ahead.
Adding to the intrigue, Arteta opted to substitute captain Martin Odegaard in the second half, replacing him with young talent Ethan Nwaneri. The tactical decision raised eyebrows, particularly as Odegaard’s leadership and creativity are often vital in tight games like this one.
Arteta defended the decision, saying, “With Martin, it was a tactical choice. If Ethan comes in and scores, it’s seen as a great substitution. If not, people question it. That’s the nature of football.”
While Nwaneri brought energy and fresh legs, Arsenal’s attack still couldn’t break through Everton’s defensive resilience, with Jordan Pickford pulling off key saves to keep the game level.
Arsenal had a late appeal for a penalty turned down when Thomas Partey went down in the box under pressure from two Everton defenders. VAR reviewed the incident but decided against sending referee Craig Pawson to the monitor.
When asked about the decision, Arteta remained reserved: “I haven’t seen the incident yet, so I can’t comment.”
The draw leaves Arsenal in a frustrating position, as Liverpool also dropped points in their 2-2 draw at Anfield. This result could have allowed the Gunners to close the gap at the top of the table.
Coming off the back of a 3-0 win over Monaco earlier in the week, Arsenal had hoped to build momentum, but inconsistency in the final third proved costly.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
The immediate concern for Arteta will be Rice’s fitness, as the midfielder’s influence is crucial to Arsenal’s balance and defensive stability. The manager will also reflect on the effectiveness of his substitutions as the Gunners look to bounce back in their next fixture.
