%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit for taking Arsenal to the summit of the Premier League table. However, he is not perfect and has been widely criticized for his choice of substitutions. The Gunners boss is reluctant to make changes during a game, and this has now led to an injury to a star player.
With Arsenal leading Brentford 1-0 in the closing stages of the game, Declan Rice had to receive medical treatment. He was then taken off for Viktor Gyokeres in the 84th minute. Given the amount of game time Rice has played this season, Arteta should be looking at managing his midfielders' minutes.
Fortunately, Bukayo Saka sealed the victory for Arsenal with a goal in added time. This secured the three points and extended the Gunners' lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points.
Rice has featured in every game for Arsenal this season, including all Champions League and EFL Cup games this season. Arteta could have substituted Rice earlier before his injury occurred. He had Christian Norgaard on the bench, who has made just two Premier League appearances this season. Norgaard was also only signed from Brentford last summer, so he would have known the opposition very well.
Alternatively, Arteta could have started Rice on the bench. The former West Ham United midfielder, who Arsenal paid £100 for, wants to play every game. However, sometimes you need to protect players from themselves. He started Saka on the bench. Squad rotation is what is needed for a side to win the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta does not always get his substitutions right
Arteta has been criticized for his in-game decision-making since he became the Arsenal manager. Back in 2019, he took a while to remove David Luiz from the field despite a head clash with Raul Jimenez. More recently, in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend, Arteta failed to make the changes necessary to break down a side that was down to 10 men.
Arteta may have learned his trade as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City. However, even Guardiola often overthinks and gets his subs wrong. The Arsenal manager is only 43, which is relatively young for a manager. However, he has been the Gunners' boss since 2019, which is a long time in soccer.
After coming so close to winning the Premier League in the last three seasons, the pressure is on Arteta. His in-game management needs to be better if Arsenal is to win the division.