“Didn’t Want to Play Him”: Mikel Arteta Says One Arsenal Star Was Never Actually Meant to Feature vs Man City
Arsenal and Manchester City played out a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday, with the Gunners narrowly missing out on what could have been one of their most significant victories under Mikel Arteta.
John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser dealt a devastating blow to Arsenal, who had defended resolutely throughout the match. The north London side were forced to play the entire second half with just ten men after Leandro Trossard was sent off.
In addition to almost securing a historic win, Arsenal also faced several injury setbacks during the game. Among the injured were goalscorer Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and Gabriel Martinelli, who suffered from cramping.
Mikel Arteta later revealed that one of the Arsenal players who featured in the game had not even been scheduled to play originally.
Ben White Originally Not Meant to Feature Against Man City
In a post-match press conference, Arteta disclosed that Ben White was not originally intended to feature so heavily for Arsenal, despite having started every game this season, including the UEFA Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday.
White was substituted in at halftime, replacing Bukayo Saka, to help form a back five after Trossard’s red card.
However, if the sending off hadn’t happened, it’s quite possible the England defender might not have played at all.
Arteta said when asked about the decision to start White on the bench against City: “We didn’t want to play him that long, but we had to. I spoke to him yesterday and I wanted to protect him.
“He’s not going to ever tell you that he’s not fit. He will run through a brick wall for you. The intention was not to use him today. But I’m very grateful because he performed extremely well.”
As Arsenal prepare to host Bolton Wanderers this week in the League Cup, there’s a strong possibility that Mikel Arteta could rotate his squad entirely, making up to 11 changes from the team that played against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium over the weekend.
With Ben White already in need of a break, Arsenal supporters are optimistic that the defender will recover in time to feature in Saturday’s Premier League match against Leicester City, which could prove crucial for the Gunners.
White is considered one of Arsenal’s key players, and with the fullback feeling the effects of six matches already this season, fans are hoping that the England international will be fully fit for the upcoming fixture at the Emirates on Saturday.
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