Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has explained why he benched midfielder Declan Rice during his side’s Premier League 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Arteta opted to start the likes of Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi in Arsenal’s midfield ahead of Rice.
DAILY POST reports that goals from Zubimendi (2) and Viktor Gyokeres gave the Gunners the victory against Nottingham at the Emirates Stadium.lok
Explaining his decision for not starting the England international, Arteta said at his post-match interview: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.
“I want to play him because he is going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he will play the next game. That is what we need to try to manage the best possible way.”
Arsenal’s next game is against Athletic Club in the Champions League on Tuesday.
