Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to substitute Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard in the 0-0 draw against Everton, insisting that the change was purely a “tactical decision.” Despite Arsenal’s persistent efforts to score during the match at the Emirates Stadium, Ødegaard, who had been a key figure in their play, was taken off in the 62nd minute for teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri. This substitution, while a talking point, was aimed at altering the rhythm of the game, according to Arteta.
“With Martin it was a tactical decision to try to change their rhythm on that side,” Arteta explained. He acknowledged that such decisions can be contentious: “I understand. If Ethan comes in and he scores a goal, it’s a great goal. If he doesn’t, you have taken your captain out. That’s football.” Ødegaard’s exit came alongside that of Declan Rice, who was also substituted due to a fitness issue. Arteta further elaborated on the situation, revealing that Rice was feeling discomfort and needed to come off for his own well-being. “With Declan, I had to take him off because he was feeling something,” he said.
The match ended in a frustrating draw for Arsenal, who were unable to break down Everton’s resolute defense, which was well-organized and led by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Despite Arsenal’s possession and attempts to score, including several blocked shots and key saves by Pickford, they failed to find the back of the net. Arteta acknowledged the challenges faced by his side, praising the Everton defense for their structure and determination.
“Credit to them as well, the way they defended, the way they blocked shots, the saves that Pickford made, the shape that they defend with,” Arteta said. He also noted that while Arsenal could improve individually, creating “magic moments” when needed is never an easy task in such high-pressure games.
