Mikel Arteta sends clear message to Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah

Mikel Arteta has told his squad players to be ready to play a huge part in the run-in this season.

Arsenal began a brutal run of nine matches within a month with a 0-0 draw with Manchester City on Sunday. That could rise to 10 if they make it to the Champions League semi-finals, and Arteta has insisted that he will need every member of his squad if the Gunners are to achieve both domestic and European success.

«We have discussed that and pushing for each other to be available to contribute in any way to help us win and perform consistently at the level we need,» the Spaniard said ahead of his side's clash with Luton Town, «we’re going to need everyone.»

Arteta though has been reticent to use his squad to its full extent in recent times. Since returning from the winter break in January, he has used just 16 players from the start, and of that group Aaron Ramsdale and Emile Smith Rowe have started just once.

Long-term injuries to players like Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey have, of course, played a part in this. However, certain fringe players such as Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson have barely featured despite being fit for almost the entirety of 2024. In fact, the Hale End trio have played just 271 minutes between them in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

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With the Spaniard expected to rotate his side against Luton on Wednesday this has created some concerns over potential rustiness. Arteta though has insisted Nelson's dramatic winner against Bournemouth last season proves that his squad players will only need a moment to make