Arsenal continued their strong 2024 form with a 2-0 victory over Luton Town, which saw them briefly move back to the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta caused some surprise when he made four changes to his starting lineup, with Reiss Nelson making his first league start since 2020, and Thomas Partey making his first start of 2024.
Whilst the performance and victory were hardly eye-catching, with goals coming from Martin Odegaard and an own goal, Arsenal secured all three points ahead of a busy month both domestically and in Europe.
Arteta’s decisions on the night have now been praised, and the strong knock-on effect the win will have could be vital in the title race.
Mikel Arteta selection decisions in Arsenal win work wonders
Emile Smith Rowe came in for a rare start, and played a part in both goals, with the Englishman then named as the player of the match.
Nelson, Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko all returned to the starting lineup, with Declan Rice coming on as a substitute for the first time in the league this season, and Bukayo Saka left out of the matchday squad as a precaution.
The Telegraph have now highlighted how giving the fringe players minutes, and confidence, whilst winning without Saka and Rice, were two decisions which fully paid off for Arteta.
“Unleash the competitive instinct in his replacements, rile them to prove him wrong and the benefit was all his. As a piece of man management, it worked to perfection,” a report stated.
“If it seemed an unnecessary gamble to start with Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson instead of his reliable first choice, it worked to perfection. It proved precisely the right thing to do ahead of an intense run-in furred up with domestic and European showdowns at every turn.”
Arsenal will reap benefits of rotation vs Luton Town
Arsenal face a quick turnaround before travelling to Brighton on Saturday, but they will now head into that game with a fully rested Saka, and a fresh Declan Rice, having secured the win in a low-intensity performance.
Smith Rowe and Partey gained valuable minutes, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu also impressed off the bench.
His decisions to use Smith Rowe and Nelson to replace Rice and Saka, rather than opting for more experienced options in Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, worked wonders as both players gained valuable game time.
These decisions after rotation, will have given the bench players extra fitness and match sharpness ahead of the run-in, and Arteta may be forced to rely on his squad players as the fixture list piles up.
If Arsenal dropped points against Luton, these decisions would have been criticised, but Arteta’s gamble paid off, as Rice and Saka earned a much-needed rest, with Smith Rowe and Partey now even better prepared to make a difference in the final two months of the season.