At a Glance:
- Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made a questionable decision against Manchester City.
- Arteta’s decision backfired at the Etihad Stadium.
- The Spaniard will regret taking such a call against Manchester City.
Question marks around Mikel Arteta’s ability to get this Arsenal side over the line will only be raised further after the visitors lost 2-1 against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Wayne Rooney questioned Arteta for benching Viktor Gyokeres in favour of Kai Havertz, who struggled against Manchester City as the Spaniard will be under the spotlight in the forthcoming days.
The 44-year-old named a bold line-up, starting Martin Odegaard straight away against City after his return to full fitness and deploying Eberechi Eze as a left-winger.
The likes of Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard’s absences from the XI came as a surprise but in fairness to Mikel Arteta, his decision to start Eze paid off.
Mikel Arteta subbing Ebereche Eze off during Man City vs Arsenal was baffling
By no means was Eze at his vintage best but even so, he looked lively as a makeshift wideman, taking on players, wriggling out of tight spaces and trying to stamp his authority on proceedings.
In the second half, the Englishman showed his class by dancing past Bernardo Silva before striking the post with a thunderous left-footed shot as Arsenal seemed to be coming into their own after his attempt.
Eze was Arsenal’s best player against Manchester City and seemed like the Gunners’ answer to Rayan Cherki, who bamboozled Gabriel to score a wondrous opening goal.
Eberechi Eze so much more effective, involved and threatening when he moves inside. Better at 10 but playing wide here. Odegaard central, Arteta has wide options in Trossard and Dowman. #MCIARS
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 19, 2026
However, Mikel Arteta decided to take the former Crystal Palace attacker off in the 74th minute in what was an utterly baffling call and that too for Trossard, who has flattered to deceive this season. At the time, Manchester City were leading 2-1 and Arsenal were in desperate need of a moment of magic.
Yet, Arteta’s answer to levelling the scoreline was to take Eze off, who is perhaps the most dangerous player in the final third at his disposal; a decision that did not age well to say the least.
Eberechi Eze should ask why Martin Odegaard wasn’t subbed off vs Man City
Eze would have every right to be upset about being substituted against Manchester City considering Odegaard played the full game despite failing to impact proceedings.
Perhaps Mikel Arteta felt the need for his captain to stay on the pitch in what was a huge game for both sides.
However, Arteta may be accused of being risk-averse once again as he could have backed Eze, who was growing into proceedings and could well have had the finest day of his Arsenal career had he not been taken off.
