12 December 2023 , 21:53
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Mikel Arteta had a specific reason for throwing on Declan Rice in the second half in PSV despite Arsenal already being confirmed as group winners.
Eddie Nketiah had given the Gunners a 42nd minute lead in Holland, with Yorbe Vertessen levelling five minutes after the break. Substitute Leandro Trossard missed a golden chance to win it late on but in truth, it mattered little with the major talking point afterwards centring around Arteta's deployment of Rice, and not the result.
He seemed to be taking an unnecessary gamble when just after the hour mark, he threw on the England international and club captain Martin Odegaard. But rather than use the £105million man in midfield, he instead put him at centre-back in place of Cedric Soares.
“We are very short at the back and I really wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation,” Arteta explained afterwards. “I thought he was really good,
“We have to try as if we have an emergency, we have to understand and to be sure that we can fill that gap in the right way. He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option.”
Rice has previous experience in a defensive role as a youngster at West Ham. But while Arteta declared himself satisfied with the experiment, the night was soured by Mohamed Elneny being forced off with a hamstring injury.
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Mikel Arteta played Declan Rice in defence at PSV Eindhoven (Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock)“He felt something, we don’t know the extent,” Arteta admitted afterwards, before implying a lack of game time may have contributed to the niggle. “It’s been a long time since he last played.”
The focus for Arteta and co will now turn to Sunday's home game with Brighton, having slipped off the top of the Premier League last weekend. And the Spaniard admitted to being relieved at having no more European football until after January.
“Overall, finishing first with a game to play we have to be really happy,” Arteta said. “Now we have to close that chapter now until February and make sure that when that chapter opens up again, we’re in the best place to compete against another top side.”