Arsenal’s substitutes’ bench against Manchester City was stacked with talent and experience — in fact, those players collectively had close to 1,000 Premier League appearances to their names. That level of depth speaks volumes about how much quality Mikel Arteta had at his disposal for such a huge fixture.
But it also raises an interesting debate: with so much experience and proven quality sitting on the sidelines, did Arteta take a risk by leaving too much of it out of his starting lineup? In matches of this magnitude, every decision is magnified, and the fine balance between trusting youth, form, and energy versus leaning on experience can determine the outcome.
Some might argue that this was Arteta’s boldest statement yet — showing confidence in his chosen XI while keeping heavy firepower ready to come on if needed. Others, however, may question whether more seasoned campaigners could have helped Arsenal gain control earlier in the game, especially against a rival as ruthless and experienced as City.
What can’t be denied is that this scenario underlines Arsenal’s squad evolution. Just a few years ago, depth was a concern, but now the fact that such experience can be left on the bench highlights the strength of Arteta’s project. The question remains, though — was it a case of tactical genius, or could it be seen as a missed opportunity?
