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Gary Lineker shares why he thinks Mikel Arteta failed to sub on Ethan Nwaneri for Arsenal vs PSG
Even before a ball was kicked against Paris Saint-Germain, a lot of Arsenal fans were calling for Ethan Nwaneri to start ahead of Martin Odegaard.
Odegaard is Mikel Arteta’s captain, someone he was never going to drop, but the Arsenal midfielder is seriously out of form.
The Norwegian had some nice moments in Paris and his industry without the ball was pretty incredible at times, but his end product seems to have deserted him r♍ight now.
Odegaard was finding himself in clever pockets on the edge of PSG’s box time and time again, but he simpꦰly couldn’t forge a goalscoring opportunity.
That being said, Arsenal had Nwaneri watching on from the bench, who didn’t actually play a single minute at the Parc des ⛎Princes.
Gary Lineker gives his Ethan Nwaneri theory
Before the game, Micah Richards wanted Nwaneri to get a chance in France — he believed that ❀t♎he youngster could make a difference.
Likewise, Arsenal fans are furious that Nwaneri didn’t play, especially given that O🎃degaard was struggling once again.
That considered, Gary Lineker discussed Nwaneri not being inꦿtro💛duced on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast.
Lineker spoke about Arteta’s substitutions, highlightiꩵng that he was simply rota🌊ting his defenders despite chasing the game.
And then t🍸he pundi🎃t shared his theory as to why Arteta held Nwaneri back.
Li🙈neke🉐r said: “Yeah, I mean, to the people he brought on, even though they were trailing with defenders, weren’t they? Ben White and Calafiori.
“Nwaneri you thought may have gotಌ a little run at it at some point, but may♒be he thinks he’s not quite ready for that big occasion yet. He’s still a very young, young man.”
Arsenal fans need to trust Mikel Arteta
Of course, Arteta should be trusted to know what’s best for Arsenal’s youngsters — he’s done a superb job of bringing Myles Lewis-Skelly🐟 ♚and Nwaneri through thus far.
And it was evident that Lewis-Skelly so🍨mewhat struggled on the big stage for Arsenal for the first time in Paris.
The 18-year-old was still excellent at times but he didn’t deliver the flawless performance that Arsenal♎ fans ha༒ve often been treated to.
Ric🍬cardo Calafiori’s introdu🍷ction was needed, a more experienced head who did really well when he came on.
And given that Nwaneri is slightly behind Lewis-Skelly iܫn terms of minutes and readiness, it’s understandable why Aജrteta chose to protect the youngster somewhat.