Steve Nicol can’t get his head around what Mikel Arteta has done at Arsenal, it ‘makes no sense’

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal rescued a point against Manchester City on Sunday with a 1-1 draw courtesy of a late Gabriel Martinelli goal.

A draw against Manchester City is never a terrible result, but it’s a far cry from the 5-1 win Arsenal enjoyed last season.

Mikel Arteta has been criticised for fielding a negative team against City on Sunday, and speaking on ESPN, Steve Nicol has picked out one baffling decision that Mikel Arteta made on Sunday.

Indeed, according to Nicol, not starting Eberechi Eze against Man City was a baffling decision, claiming that this call simply made no sense at all.

Eberechi Eze should have started vs Man City

Nicol spoke about the decision to not start Eze against Man City.

The pundit says that it makes no sense to leave Eze on the bench for a game like this.

The Liverpool legend says he wasn’t at all shocked to see Eze playing a starring role when he came off the bench.

“And even if you want to go with his nonsense about, well, they were good in midweek. Are you telling me Eze shouldn’t be playing ahead of Trossard? I mean, it just makes no sense,” Nicol said.

“It just shows that he was cautious. And it’s backfired because it took them to make the changes in the second half. Madueke wasn’t well. That’s why Saka came on so early.

“And then he brings Eze on. And surprise, surprise, Who played that ball in behind for Martinelli from the middle of the park? Eze, I mean, there’s your answer. There’s what you got wrong.”

Eberechi Eze’s record vs Man City

Nicol says that it doesn’t make sense not to start Eze vs City, and he’s not wrong.

Indeed, while Eze has been playing for Crystal Palace for most of his Premier League career, he’s maintained something of a respectable record against Man City over the years.

Four goal contributions in 10 matches against City isn’t a bad return at all for a midfield player who has been playing for a lesser team in recent years.

Eze can be a difference-maker in these types of games, and Arteta needs to start using him more.