Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to substitute Eberechi Eze at half-time during Arsenal’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, insisting that the tactical change was necessary to overcome the hosts’ defensive approach.
Eze was withdrawn after a quiet first-half performance at the City Ground on Sunday, with Noni Madueke introduced in his place. The decision proved decisive as Madueke scored the winning goal in the 80th minute to secure all three points for the Gunners.
Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut opportunities before the break, failing to register a shot on target as Forest defended resolutely and restricted the visitors’ attacking options.
Asked why he decided to take Eze off, Arteta pointed to the way Forest had organised themselves defensively.
“The way they were defending,” the Arsenal manager explained.
He said Forest’s defensive structure made it difficult for Arsenal’s wide players to exploit space behind the opposition, while the positioning of the players around the flanks allowed the hosts to remain comfortable defensively.
Arteta added that Arsenal had players with different qualities who could be introduced depending on what a particular match demanded.
Madueke makes immediate impact
Madueke provided the breakthrough Arsenal desperately needed, cutting inside from the left before unleashing a shot that took a deflection off Forest defender Jair Cunha and found the back of the net.
The goal, scored with 10 minutes remaining, was Arsenal’s only shot on target in a difficult encounter that tested their patience and attacking creativity.
Arteta also defended Eze, who had scored against Lille in the Champions League earlier in the week. The manager pointed out that the England international had performed well in that match, demonstrating how quickly circumstances can change for attacking players.
“Three days ago, he scored a goal, should have scored three, and we were all happy,” Arteta said.
“This is football. One day it’s brilliant, the next day it’s not.”
The Arsenal boss stressed that matches against teams defending deep require fresh legs and different attacking profiles to unlock stubborn backlines.
Arsenal grind out important victory
Despite their struggles in possession and the final third, Arsenal held on to claim a narrow victory that kept them in contention near the top of the Premier League table.
Forest threatened to equalise late on, but Arsenal survived the pressure to leave Nottingham with all three points.
The result highlighted the importance of squad depth, with Madueke’s decisive contribution demonstrating how substitutes can influence matches even when the starting players struggle to make an impact.
For Eze, the half-time withdrawal was a setback after his encouraging midweek performance. However, Arteta’s comments suggested the decision was driven primarily by the tactical demands of the match rather than a broader judgement of the midfielder’s ability.
Arsenal will now turn their attention to their next challenge, with Arteta hoping his side can build on the result while improving their attacking fluency against stronger opposition.
