Arsenal continued their Premier League title chase with a convincing 2-0 victory over Luton Town, but it wasn’t just the result that impressed.
Manager Mikel Arteta made five changes to the starting lineup, offering opportunities to fringe players. This tactical gamble paid off, with the likes of Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe putting in strong performances.
Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack for Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Luton Town at the Emirates on Wednesday night, making five changes to the side that started the previous game. This decision, motivated by a congested fixture schedule, proved a success as the Gunners moved back to the top of the table.
“Yeah, we have discussed that and pushing each other and being available to contribute in any way to help us win the game and perform consistently at the level that we need to so we’re going to need everybody,” Arteta had said before the match, highlighting the importance of keeping fringe players motivated and offering them opportunities to prove their worth.
“That’s certainly something really important [to keep fringe players motivated]. They really need to feel it, and the best way to feel it is to play minutes. When they don’t have the capacity to show what can do, they have to show it in training. We have to be close to them and we have to convince them to keep doing it and earn the right to play,” he added.
The congested schedule, featuring two games a week in April, played a key role in Arteta’s decision to rotate the squad. With a crucial Champions League tie against Bayern Munich looming and both Manchester City and Liverpool hot on their heels in the Premier League title race, managing players’ fitness and ensuring freshness became paramount.
This presented a golden opportunity for Arsenal’s fringe players to step up. Notably, Reiss Nelson, who hadn’t featured in a Premier League starting lineup since July 2020, was given the nod. The England Under-21 winger impressed.
The decision was also made to rest Bukayo Saka, who has been battling fatigue throughout the season. He was not included in the squad at all.
Following the victory, Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the rotated squad. “We made five changes for players that fully deserved to play, because they give me the right reasons every day to do so. They have to be used and I think they had a really good impact on the team,” he said.
He went on to praise individual performances: “Emile Smith Rowe had an impact for sure, and Reiss as well. Alex Zinchenko had some really good moments, Thomas Partey had his first start since August, that is unbelievable. Leo comes into the team and he makes an impact. It’s really important because now they’re physically better, mentally better, they are confident and they are ready to go.”
Arteta highlighted the importance of building trust in the entire squad, regardless of who starts: “There are always questions if it’s only half of the team and in the end, we’ll be judged on what we do and whether it’s right or wrong because of the result. We should not do that, we should do it because they fully deserve it regardless of if we win, draw or lose. Today they gave us a reason that we have to trust them.”
The win against Luton showed the depth and quality within the Arsenal squad. With key players rested and fringe players proving their worth, the Gunners appear well-equipped to navigate the demanding schedule ahead as they chase their first Premier League title in two decades.