Mikel Arteta explains Eberechi Eze half-time substitution vs Nottingham Forest

Mikel Arteta defended his decision to haul Eberechi Eze off at half-time in Arsenal’s tense 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

After registering his first goal of the season in the midweek Champions League victory over Lille, Eze retained his place in the starting XI for the trip to the City Ground.

The England international has struggled for regular game time so far this term, but any suggestion he was set to kickstart his campaign was quickly dispelled during a non-descript 45 minutes.

Indeed, it was no surprise when Eze was hooked at the interval and replaced by the eventual matchwinner Noni Madueke.

Asked to explain the early change, Arteta said: ‘The way they were defending, the two units outside, the two midfielders were creating without having a real threat in behind of just forcing Munoz to a different type of game. They were more comfortable.

‘That’s what we have, different players with different qualities and adapt to what the game is delivering.’

Eze was seen slumped in the dugout during the second period as his teammates ground out the three points that kept them within touching distance of leaders Manchester City.

‘Three days a go he scored a goal, he should have scored three and we were all happy,’ said Arteta when asked for a reaction to Eze’s apparent dissatisfaction.

‘This is football, one day is brilliant and especially with attacking players to play a team which defends with 10 players around the box, the nine dropping almost at the edge with that chemistry it’s extremely difficult to get in there.

‘That’s why you need fresh legs, a different profile and try fresh things.’

As well as Madueke, it was the contribution of fellow ‘finishers’ Jurrien Timber, Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino who helped get the defending champions over the line.

Arteta added: ‘Some of them played three days ago and some of them will start the next game and they know that everyone has to be at it. If you are needed after 60 minutes, 45 minutes and sometimes two minutes – we have a squad now that can deliver in moments and we have to use that.

‘Noni [Madueke], Jurrien [Timber], Mikel [Merino] was brilliant when he came on and Viktor [Gyokeres] really changed the game – all of them did and that’s what we need. Noni obviously the highlight because he scored the goal and that’s the difference.

‘Sometimes you can get frustrated with teams who are difficult to break down. First half we didn’t have a shot on target and that’s something we discussed. We had another two big ones in the second half but the only one on target we had was a little deflection and it’s in.

‘Great reaction [after scoring goal], to have the will to defend a really open and difficult and stressful situation.’