BREAKING NEWS: “He’s an extremely poor player; I’ve never seen anyone worse playing for a major club like him. It’s about time he starts learning Arabic and heads to the Saudi League,” – Arsenal Captain furiously states after witnessing something from Arsenal against Everton that he’s never encountered in his entire career.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained his decisions to substitute Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice during the team’s 0-0 draw against Everton on Saturday. While Odegaard’s withdrawal was a tactical move, Rice had to be taken off due to an injury concern.

Arsenal delivered a lackluster performance, prompting Arteta to make changes around the hour mark, introducing Jorginho and young prospect Ethan Nwaneri in place of Odegaard and Rice. These substitutions, particularly Odegaard’s removal, sparked discussions among fans due to his importance as the team’s creative force.

Addressing the decision, Arteta admitted understanding the surprise. He explained that his intention was to inject fresh energy, particularly on Odegaard’s side of the field. “I understand the surprise,” Arteta said. “If Ethan comes in and scores, it’s a great decision.

If he doesn’t, you’ve taken your captain off, and people will question it. That’s football.” He stressed that substitutions are meant to change a game’s flow, even if players naturally wish to play the full 90 minutes.

Rice’s substitution, however, was not planned but dictated by a fitness issue. Arteta revealed that Rice had been managing a minor injury throughout the week and experienced discomfort during the game.

To avoid aggravating the problem, Arteta chose to substitute him. “With Declan, I had to take him off because he was feeling something,” Arteta explained. “He’s been dealing with a little niggle, and when he asked to come off, we had to respect that.”

Arteta also discussed the decision to bring on Nwaneri, highlighting the teenager’s potential to impact the game. While the substitutions did not produce the desired breakthrough, they reflected Arteta’s readiness to take calculated risks in pursuit of a positive result.

Despite these efforts, Arsenal struggled to find rhythm, and the absence of two key players underscored the team’s challenges during the match.

The club will now focus on assessing Rice’s condition ahead of their upcoming fixtures as they continue their quest for silverware this season.