Mikel Arteta hailed for bold Arsenal decision vs Chelsea as new Champions League tactic emerges
Pat Nevin has heaped praise on Mikel Arteta for his game management during Arsenal's clash against Chelsea. Before Declan Rice halved the Blues' advantage with a tremendous strike from range, the Gunners looked down and out.
As soon as the 24-year-old midfielder's effort looped over Robert Sanchez, Arteta looked to the bench and made two substitutions which would later prove to be game-changing. The Arsenal boss replaced Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli with Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard, who quickly found an equaliser.
Bukayo Saka found the Belgium international at the back-post with a brilliant cross. Malo Gusto, who had enjoyed an excellent game at right-back until then, was unaware of Trossard's late run leaving Sanchez rooted to the spot.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live, Nevin lauded Arteta for the tactical changes he made at both half-time and in the final minutes of the game. The former Blues winger said: «Since the start of the second half after the Chelsea goal, Arsenal have been getting down those lines and getting into dangerous positions.
»And they know that they’re strong finishers and they were just waiting for that chance to come," Nevin added before waxing lyrical about Trossard. «He's come on and his finish is perfect there. They’ve never given up.
»The ball is played out to the right-hand side and instead of putting an early one in, he takes it onto his left foot and just for a moment, for the first time I would say, [Malo] Gusto turns off and that’s all it needed."
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