Mikel Arteta has provided clarity on his decision to substitute Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday.
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Despite controlling much of the game, the Gunners couldn’t find a breakthrough, extending their frustrating run without a league win after a disappointing 2-2 draw at Fulham.
In the 0-0 stalemate against Everton, Arteta made the bold decision to remove both key players just after the hour mark.
Fans were left surprised as the team struggled to break the deadlock, despite dominating possession and not conceding a single shot.
Arteta explained his reasoning, stating that Rice had to come off due to a physical issue, while Odegaard’s substitution was a tactical move aimed at changing the game’s tempo.
“With Declan, he was feeling something, and with Martin, it was a tactical choice to adjust the rhythm, especially on that side,” Arteta said post-match.
The Arsenal boss expressed frustration with the result: “It’s very disappointing not to win, we deserved all three points. We dominated, created big chances, but couldn’t score.”
Arteta also addressed concerns about Everton’s longer break between fixtures, saying it didn’t factor into the result.
“It doesn’t matter, we generated enough intensity, especially in the second half. It’s frustrating when you dominate so much but fail to convert chances into goals.”
