LONDON – Mikel Arteta praised his bit-part players after they helped take Arsenal back to the top of the English Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Luton Town on April 3.
Winger Reiss Nelson made his first league start of the season, Emile Smith Rowe his third and midfielder Thomas Partey was in the starting XI for the first time since August.
With Declan Rice, Jorginho and Gabriel Jesus left on the bench and Bukayo Saka not in the squad, Arsenal showed they have the strength in depth that was in doubt last season when their title hopes evaporated in the closing months.
Smith Rowe was especially impressive, having a hand in both goals, while Partey quickly got up to speed.
“I look at my players and squad in a different way. It’s a joy to have them fit. If we want to utilise the squad and maximise what we have, they have to play,” said Arteta. “I think they did really well.
“I think we have won again with good confidence and I think they’ve been really important for us.”
It was a bold move by Arteta to make five changes from the side who drew 0-0 with champions Manchester City on March 31, although Rice and Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench late on.
“When they have the moment, they have to take it and they certainly did today,” he said of his squad players. “They gave me a reason every day, regardless of the result because it’s the right decision and it’s not down to the result.
“If we would have lost the game, it would have been down to making the changes. You have to do what is right and what they deserve, and I was full of confidence that they would respond.”
Arsenal, who will relinquish top spot if Liverpool beat Sheffield United on April 4, certainly look more capable of sustaining their title push than a year ago. That match took place after press time.
“It’s certainly different to what we had last season, and the big injuries that we had in the key moments of the season,” Arteta said.
He reserved special praise for Smith Rowe.
For Arsenal’s 24th-minute opener, the Englishman dispossessed the dawdling Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu inside the visitors’ half and fed Martin Odegaard, who played a one-two with Kai Havertz before stroking the ball home for his 10th goal of the season.
Arsenal doubled their lead in the 44th minute thanks to Luton defender Daiki Hashioka, who turned into his own net following more good work down the left by Smith Rowe.
“I love him as a player. It’s a joy to watch him, how he moves, how he changes direction, how physical he was today as well without the ball,” Arteta said.
“He won a lot of duels and he was thinking with that killer instinct to play forward and to make things happen. Today, he helped us a lot to win the game.” REUTERS, AFP
