Arsenal fans tear into Arteta's decision vs Tottenham - “Open your eyes mate!"

24 September 2023 , 18:53

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Image: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal fans were not happy with Mikel Arteta's decision to take off Gabriel Jesus instead of Eddie Nketiah in the North London Derby.

The Gunners drew 2-2 with rivals Tottenham after twice taking the lead through a Cristian Romero own goal and a Bukayo Saka penalty, only for Spurs captain Son Heung-min to earn his side a point with a brace. And Arteta was left "disappointed" at Arsenal for failing to pick up the win, admitting they "lacked the quality in the final third".

However, some Gunners fans were not happy with their manager for substituting Jesus for Reiss Nelson in the 77th minute, with many believing Nketiah should have been the player to come off instead. "Arteta open your eyes mate, Smith Rowe, Jesus Saka - Nelson, Jesus, Saka - hell even Jesus, Havertz, Saka would be better than playing Nketiah full-time," one supporter fumed on social media.

"Arteta has a massive blind spot when it comes to Nketiah," wrote another supporter. "He shouldn't be getting this many minutes. We have much better options now Jesus is fit."

A third added: "Moving Jesus to [left-wing], somewhere he's never played for us, to accommodate Eddie at [striker] for 90 mins is a proper head-scratcher. Arteta is in love with Nketiah. Havertz, Nelson, much better options."

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"Arteta's in game management is still so questionable," wrote a fourth. "Nketiah should have been off at half-time, let alone play the whole game AND he was on a yellow. Play Jesus up front, he’s a much better presser and striker all round."

"I don't understand Arteta at times, why hook Jesus off when Nketiah should have been coming off, why bring [Smith Rowe] on for four minutes when he could have quickened the pace and been an attacking threat way earlier, just bizarre," added another.

Some Arsenal fans felt Arteta should have taken off Eddie Nketiah (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

ESPN, meanwhile, noted that there were audible groans from the Arsenal fans at the Emirates when Jesus was taken off instead of Nketiah. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville was also critical of the forward, questioning why he was not at the back post to score a simple tap-in from a corner routine.

"Nketiah has to be there," Neville said while on commentary for Sky Sports. "Why is he not at the back post? It reminds me of Ian Wright, that was his old position, that's such a big chance.

"How does he not smell, sniff, anticipate that one? He's got to be there, that's his job. Look at him, he has got to be flying at that back post and he's late."

Matthew Cooper