Jermain Defoe says he was ‘really surprised’ after what Arsenal did against Man City on Sunday

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Arsenal picked up a point on Sunday against Manchester City at the Emirates.

This was a crunch clash between two title contenders, and it ended up honours even in north London on the day.

Arsenal were fancied to beat City, but they had to settle for a point after being behind for a long period of the match.

Gabriel Martinelli saved the day, but there has been something of an inquest in north London about Mikel Arteta’s team selection.

Eberechi Eze started on the bench on Sunday, and speaking on Premier League Productions’ Generation xG, Jermain Defoe has shared how surprised he was by Mikel Arteta’s team selection on the day.

Jermain Defoe shocked by Mikel Arteta’s team selection

Defoe spoke about the team Mikel Arteta fielded against City on Sunday.

The pundit says that he was really surprised not to see Eberechi Eze in the starting XI for this one, claiming that he thought he would’ve started in this match.

Eze joined Arsenal for big-money in the summer, but he’s yet to really cement his place in Mikel Arteta’s first choice XI.

“Just surprised with the Arsenal selections to be honest. I just felt like when you sign someone like Eze you bring him on to to make a difference and play in the big games. Could he have played as an eight or a 10? Just really surprised with the selection. I thought he would have played in this game,” Defoe said.

Nicky Butt was also surprised by Mikel Arteta’s team selection

Defoe wasn’t the only pundit to share this sentiment.

Indeed, speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football, Nicky Butt also shared a similar point of view.

“A big thing for me was the two lads on the bench. I think Saka and Eze, I mean, they’re two of the best players in the Premier League at the minute. And to have them both on the bench in what you would say is one of your main rivals for the title. I don’t think City will win the title, but it’s going to be between City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Yeah, I thought it was weird. That was a really strange one,” Butt said.

Arteta was more cautious than he perhaps needed to be in this match, and, ultimately, that may have cost Arsenal in this game.

Mikel Arteta needs to take the handbrake off if he’s going to lead this Arsenal side to any notable success this season.