Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to substitute Eberechi Eze at half-time during a hard-fought win over Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners struggled to break down a disciplined and resolute Nottingham Forest side for long periods at the City Ground.
Noni Madueke came off the bench and ultimately settled the contest with a late deflected strike that secured three vital Premier League points for Arsenal.
Eze had been handed a starting berth on the left flank but failed to record a single shot or successful dribble during his 45 minutes on the pitch.
Arteta wasted no time in making the change at the interval, turning to Madueke to provide a different kind of attacking threat against Oliver Glasner’s stubborn low block.
The Arsenal boss was quick to defend the decision publicly, acknowledging the difficulty of the tactical situation his side faced throughout the afternoon.
“Three days ago he scored a goal, he could’ve scored three,” Arteta said of Eze. “This is football. One day he is brilliant but it is normal.”
He continued, explaining that the shape Forest deployed made it nearly impossible for Eze’s natural style to flourish in the first half.
“With that Christmas tree it is difficult to get in there,” Arteta added. “We needed a different profile and fresh legs.”
Arteta also reflected on why Arsenal found it so difficult to generate clear-cut opportunities against a determined Forest defensive structure.
“The longer the game goes on, they have more belief, you have to take more risks, and the game can break,” the Arsenal manager explained to reporters.
He acknowledged that his side created several significant chances that should have resulted in goals well before Madueke’s decisive late intervention.
“We had another three big chances where the ball should not only be on target but a goal,” Arteta said, highlighting the missed opportunities that made the victory more nervy than necessary.
Despite the laboured nature of the win, the three points represent another important step in Arsenal’s ongoing Premier League title defence.
The victory underlines Arteta’s willingness to make bold and decisive tactical decisions, even when they involve high-profile players who have been in strong recent form.
