David Seaman has questioned Mikel Arteta’s decision to substitute Martin Odegaard in Arsenal’s goalless draw with Everton and believes the ‘strange’ call may ultimately have cost the club vital points in this year’s title race.
Arsenal failed to capitalise, despite being overwhelming favourites against Sean Dyche’s lowly Toffees, after Premier League leaders Liverpool dropped points earlier in the day.
The hosts enjoyed 76 per cent of the possession and had a total of 13 shots on goal, but could not make the breakthrough as England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made five important saves for Everton.
Arsenal captain Odegaard twice failed to break the deadlock from inviting positions before being replaced by youngster Ethan Nwaneri with half an hour remaining at the Emirates.
Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly were also sacrificed as the Gunners searched in vain for an all-important winner in north London.
Asked how Odegaard reacted to being hauled off at his post-match press conference, Arteta explained: ‘The same reaction as Martinelli… I’m sure everyone wanted to play the 90 minutes.
‘But that’s why we have the subs to try to help the team.’
The result means third-placed Arsenal trail top-of-the-table Liverpool by six points ahead of their all-London clash with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
‘It was [the time to capitalise]. Everybody else had dropped points apart from Chelsea,’ ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Seaman said on his Seaman Says podcast.
‘I saw Jordan Pickford have a great game, making a lot of saves, so as much as it was a bad result, we’re still creating chances. I’m trying to make a positive out of what wasn’t a great game.’
Seaman, who won two Premier League titles with Arsenal, was taken aback by Arteta’s bold decision to replace his skipper for 17-year-old midfielder Nwaneri in the 62nd minute.
On the suggestion that Arsenal lost their main threat when Odegaard left the field, Seaman said: ‘Well you’re gonna do.
‘He’s not injured. I understand the Declan Rice substitution because he felt a knock or something and he goes off.
‘But with Odegaard, I think it was Tim Sherwood who mentioned it on Sky and he was saying that if this doesn’t work then this is a really strange decision: why have you taken your best player off for tactical reasons?’
Seaman added: ‘You can’t rest them when you’re 0-0 and fighting to get back in the race.
‘Strange decision. I’m sure we’ll find out more… or will we?
‘He didn’t say anything after the game, did he?’
According to Seaman, the ‘only positive’ from Arteta’s perspective is that his Arsenal team were still managing to create opportunities against Everton.
‘It was weird. The open-play chances that we created, Pickford’s making some decent saves,’ the former England shot-stopper continued.
‘And then I saw a clip right at the end of the game and it’s Gabriel Jesus… for some reason, he’s three quarters in our own half and picking the ball up off our back four to then knock it long.
‘I don’t know whether he had made a covering run or something but I was like: “Why is he there? We need you up front!”
‘It was disappointing. We’re still creating chances, that’s the only positive for me.’
Are Arsenal genuine title contenders?
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Yes
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No
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