Mikel Arteta chose to rest most of his first-team players this week against Portsmouth this week but eventually, this did not lead to any major catastrophes.
The Arsenal manager chose to name a relatively young side for their FA Cup clash on Monday – a game which the Gunners won 2-0.
And speaking after the match, the manager has claimed that using the kids was worth the risk especially after their exit from the Europa League due to which some of the senior pros were a bit disheartened.
“I am pleased with all of them, the kids really responded really well,” he said of the players who came into his side, as reported.
“The energy… I was looking at them in the 94th minute and they were still pressing and going and chasing. It is a joy and I am really enjoying working with them.
“They fully deserve the chance and I don’t know if it risky to play them in this competition but they are worth a risk.
“I assessed the team and physically some of them were knackered, some of them had issues, some of them mentally were hanging on what happened that day.
📞 Ring 'em, @EddieNketiah9 pic.twitter.com/JL268YRZW9
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 3, 2020
“So I tried to pick the right team knowing how they were and I made the most of it. If you win, it is okay but if we had lost obviously it would have been the wrong decision.”
The win was really needed since Arsenal’s dream of playing in the Champions League next season has more or less faded and right now the FA Cup is their only chance of silverware this season.
And this win has once again emphasised the fact that Mikel Arteta has a bunch of talented youngster at his disposal who can do really well for the Gunners if the club can manage to hold onto them for the long run.
Also, if Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League then surely they will lose a number of their senior players in which case the youngsters will come in even more handy for Mikel Arteta.
