Mikel Arteta explained that benching Ben White for yesterday’s match against Manchester City was a precaution to protect the player.
After nursing his knee through the closing months of last season, the full-back, without the distraction of international responsibilities, had ample time to recover in the summer. However, after a busy start to the new campaign that included five consecutive starts, his manager clearly felt the time had come to give the full-back a breather.
In his place, the manager selected Jurrien Timber at right-back with Riccardo Calafiori taking over from the Dutchman at left-back. As a result of Leandro Trossard’s red card, White’s spell on the bench was limited to 45 minutes at which point he was called upon to help with the Gunners rearguard action. He seemed to come through things unscathed.
In his post-game press conference, the manager was asked about the decision to rotate.
He said: “I spoke to Ben yesterday, I wanted to protect him and he’s not going to ever tell you that he’s not fit.
“He will run through a brick wall for you and the intention was to try not to use him today, but we had to and I’m very grateful because he performed very well.”
Arsenal will spend today recovering at London Colney before turning attention to Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Bolton at the Emirates.
It’ll be interesting to see what team the Spaniard opts to field against League One opponents with rotational options limited.
After yesterday’s draw, footage emerged of goalkeeper David Raya wearing a bandage on his knee and limping to the team bus. With second-choice keeper Neto cup-tied after featuring for Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup, the Gunners may have to lean on a teenager if they don’t want to risk fielding Raya.
David Raya leaves Etihad Stadium ‘limping’ and with a bandage on his leg 😬
This does not look good for Arsenal fans… 🤕 pic.twitter.com/0Recz92jLJ
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) September 22, 2024
The absence of summer arrival Tommy Setford from the last three travelling squads suggests the 18-year-old – who is considered the third-choice stopper – might be nursing an injury. In his place 16-year-old Jack Porter has been training with the first team ahead of the likes of Lucas Nygaard and Alexei Rojas.
As far as we’re aware, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu won’t be fit and the same goes for Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard. Having been on the fringes of things so far, the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Jakub Kiwior will fancy their chances of game time, as will youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Could they have bandaged Raya up and told him to limp to quieten down some of the “use of dark arts” talk
Raya never went down and the club won’t give two f**ks what anyone else thinks 😂
I’m so frustrated by the way the “dark arts” conversation is framed in regards to Arsenal. For years we were mocked and criticised for having a purist approach to football that was about creating art and beautiful football. But now we are much more savvy. So you’d expect the same sort of compliments that City get and that Chelsea, Hull, Burnley… used to get. That old “He knows exactly what he’s doing there. Great gamesmanship from (insert cunt here)”. Instead this happens… Martinelli gets a double booking in one passage of play They change the rules about protecting goalkeepers after… Read more »
City complaining about anyone cheating in any capacity is rich. Chalk it up to a tantrum by a bunch of spoiled players who are used to everything being handed to them.
Its almost beyond belief isn’t it? That group of “the best in the world” throwing a massive collective tantrum after being handed all the advantage they were in that game. But then that’s just what cheats and narcissists do.
Remind me who booked Martinelli twice in one passage of play?
If you use “dark arts” in scrabble you get 115 points!
How many Tommy Setfords do we have?
The whole Set(ford)
Apologies, meant to type Jack Porter. Updated!
Bolton is currently 18th in League One. The fewer recognizable faces on the pitch for Arsenal, the better. The usual starters need some rest after the last week, and before the next wave of important matches.
It’s going to be very interesting to see what team that Arteta puts out against Bolton. The big guns all need a rest but it’s important that we take this competition seriously.
This is a great opportunity for the likes of Nwaneri and Sterling to get some game time. And the reserve keeper needs a run-out too.
Bolton are rubbish and even our reserves should see them off.
Is anyone else enjoying listening to the City players bleating away, about us, to the press (Haaland, Silva et al)? It’s great to know that Arsenal get right under their skin. The team walk away, from that game, with their heads held high.
Absolutely rattled
Their tears are refreshing
My blood was starting to boil reading what Silva said post-match, until I realised he was only talking such nonsense because he was that rattled, and then I smiled the smirkiest of smiles. True story.
They are rattled. They celebrated a home draw (11 vs 10 for 53 minutes, 4 days rest vs 3) like they won PL, the WC and the Grand National all rolled into one. Oasis freaks.
Not just them, but their fanbase of ten year olds are throwing tantrums all over comments sections.
Wouldn’t be supprised if it was more about getting better 1v1 defenders on to counter their wingers. Timber was fantastic defending Doku.
It’s much easier to face the Belgian Victor Moses than going against Savinho, to be fair.
Doku is also absolutely useless. Yeah he can look scary dribbling, but he has absolutely zero end product. Honestly wouldn’t say he’s drastically better than an Antony or similar, particularly given the quality of the team he plays in. Reminds me of Aaron Lennon or Shaun Wright-Phillps.
(This isn’t to undermine Timber by the way, the guy is an absolute beast. Reminds me a bit of Lauren in some ways but with massively upgraded footballing ability)
Can you imagine the level of City squealing if Benny Blanco had played LOL
Arteta spared Ederson a gentle hand holding
These injuries are all on television scheduling, advertiser demands, and greedy international federations.
I’m still so angry about yesterday, and hearing that nothing will happen to Haaland for throwing the ball at Gabby has just compounded it. If an Arsenal player did that he would be banned so long his grandchildren would still be missing games. Fuck Man City. I have never wished injury on any player before, but I hope Rodri’s knee has exploded into a billion pieces, and that Haaland is finally murdered by the terrified villagers that live near his cave.
Normally would look forward to this type of match to see more of the youngsters and players that haven’t played much so far this season (like Sterling), but can’t come at a worse time with the number of injuries we have at the moment. Certainly don’t want to see Timber play midweek with the three matches in 8 days he had last week and Saka certainly shouldn’t be risked. Trossard of course should play the full 90 since he will miss the weekend game, but beyond the two youngsters, Kiwior, Calafiori, Sterling, Jesus, Jorginho and Trossard starting and playing most… Read more »
Trossard cannot play. Will miss this game due to the red card he got against city and one-game ban. He’ll be back for the weekend premier league match.
This is a genuine question. Why is everyone so sure Trossard’s second yellow was for kicking the ball away? Watching it live and then on a second viewing, it seemed plain that the yellow was shown for the way Trossard barged into the City player, with excessive force. That’s what Jon Champion and Graeme Lesaux on the NBC feed thought as well. Le Saux thought it was a little soft, but only because of the other tackles in the half that Oliver had allowed; otherwise, he thought it was well within the range of tackles that are cautioned. Everyone I… Read more »
It was confirmed on the official PL Match Centre twitter account:
“The referee issued a second yellow card to Leandro Trossard for delaying the restart.”