Arsenal legend David Seaman has openly questioned Mikel Arteta’s decision to substitute captain Martin Odegaard during the Gunners’ frustrating 0-0 draw with Everton.
The result, which came after Premier League leaders Liverpool dropped points, leaves Arsenal trailing by six points in the title race.
Despite dominating possession (76%) and taking 13 shots on goal, Arsenal couldn’t break down Everton’s resilient defense, with Jordan Pickford making five crucial saves to deny the Gunners.
Odegaard, Arsenal’s main creative force, missed two key chances before being replaced by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri in the 62nd minute.
Speaking on his Seaman Says podcast, the former Arsenal goalkeeper criticized Arteta’s decision, calling it a “strange” tactical move.
“When you take off your best player, you’re going to lose your main threat,” Seaman said. “I understand substituting Declan Rice because he picked up a knock, but Odegaard? He wasn’t injured.”
Seaman added that the decision to rest Odegaard while the game was still goalless raised eyebrows. “You can’t rest players at 0-0 when you’re fighting to stay in the title race. It was a bold call, and if it doesn’t work, it looks really strange.”
Arteta defended his substitutions in the post-match press conference, saying, “That’s why we have subs—to try to help the team.”
However, Seaman believes the Gunners missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool.
“It was the perfect time to capitalize with other teams dropping points,” Seaman explained. “The only positive is that we’re still creating chances.
But when your captain comes off, and then you see Gabriel Jesus picking up the ball in his own half late in the game, you have to question the setup.”
Seaman also pointed out Arsenal’s inability to convert their dominance into goals as a recurring issue.
While the Gunners remain in third place, he warned that such missed opportunities could prove costly in their title bid.
Are Arsenal Genuine Title Contenders?
While Arsenal continue to show flashes of brilliance, their inconsistency in key moments has raised doubts about their ability to challenge for the Premier League title.
The Gunners have struggled to put games to bed against lower-ranked opposition, a weakness that could prove decisive in a highly competitive race.
If Arsenal are to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City, Arteta may need to reassess his tactics and make bold decisions that pay off—rather than backfire. For now, their title aspirations hang in the balance.