Did Arsenal start too cautiously?published at 09:07 BST
09:07 BST
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Mikel Arteta had no choice but to throw on more attacking players in the second half as his Arsenal side chased an equaliser at home to Manchester City.
But did the Gunners boss start too cautiously?
The Spaniard began the game with three defensively-minded central midfielders in Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.
Arsenal’s starting XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard
Eberichi Eze replaced Merino at the start of the second half in a double substitution that also saw Noni Madueke make way for Bukayo Saka on his return from injury.
With 10 minutes remaining, Arteta sacrificed right-back Jurrien Timber for eventual goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli, while Leandro Trossard was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri four minutes later.
In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Arteta reverted to four defenders, replacing Zubimendi with Christian Mosquera.
Arsenal’s finishing XI: Raya; Saliba, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Martinelli, Rice, Eze, Nwaneri, Saka; Gyokeres
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