{"id":7431,"date":"2026-04-20T21:08:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7431"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:08:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:08:19","slug":"arsenal-stars-will-be-questioning-strange-mikel-arteta-decision-against-man-city-says-paul-scholes-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7431","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal stars will be questioning ‘strange’ Mikel Arteta decision against Man City, says Paul Scholes | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Eberechi Eze\u2019s substitution in Arsenal\u2019s loss was a \u2018strange\u2019 call, says Paul Scholes (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul Scholes says Arsenal players would likely have been scratching their heads over Mikel Arteta\u2019s \u2018strange\u2019 decision to take off Eberechi Eze in the side\u2019s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland steered City to within three points of league leaders Arsenal with the decisive goal in Sunday\u2019s showdown, but the visitors had their fair share of opportunities to come away from the Etihad with at least a draw.<\/p>\n

Kai Havertz squandered a golden chance to equalise in the dying moments, having earlier cancelled out Rayan Cherki\u2019s sublime opener, while the impressive Eze also struck against the woodwork in a compelling second period.<\/p>\n

But second-placed City held on to preserve their narrow advantage in front of a euphoric home crowd, ensuring they will dislodge the Gunners at the top of the Premier League table if they get the better of Burnley on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

The result means Arsenal \u2013 runners-up in each of the last three seasons \u2013 have won just one of their last six games in all competitions ahead of their encounter with Newcastle this weekend. <\/p>\n

Jus nine days ago, a win over Bournemouth would have sent Arsenal 12 points clear at the summit. However, a pair of crushing losses in as many games mean City have all the momentum ahead of their trip to Turf Moor.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Pep Guardiola might put winning the league this season down as one of his biggest achievements as a coach,\u2019 Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.<\/p>\n

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City will leapfrog Arsenal if they win at Burnley on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Arteta\u2019s side had the chance to go 12 points clear before their defeat to Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018You think where City were in December, they were struggling. Last year, they were struggling.<\/p>\n

\u2018One thing I would say is they spent well in January. You think of Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi\u2026 <\/p>\n

\u2018I think Arsenal were decent yesterday but when you play big games, you can lose them. You know that you can.<\/p>\n

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\u2018But I\u2019ve just seen with Arsenal, over the last few years, if they\u2019re going to win the league then they\u2019re going to have to beat them and they\u2019ve failed to do that again yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u2018They had big chances and you talk about difference in centre-forwards, I think if those chances come to Erling Haaland then it\u2019s a goal. You\u2019ve got to be ruthless in those situations and unfortunately Kai Havertz just wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Arteta changed a little bit yesterday and it\u2019s not always easy to do that when you\u2019re going a certain way, playing a certain way. All of a sudden, he played quite an attacking team, a very attacking team.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was exciting but you can\u2019t just switch it on and off like that.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Eze was arguably Arsenal\u2019s biggest threat before he was replaced (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Considering Eze\u2019s impact up until that point, ex-Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira was left puzzled by Arteta\u2019s decision to substitute the England international for Leandro Trossard in the 74th minute.<\/p>\n

According to Scholes, Eze\u2019s team-mates on the pitch may have been similarly confused when they saw the number ten raised on the fourth official\u2019s board.<\/p>\n

\u2018To show a bit of intent they should have brought Declan Rice or Martn Zubimendi off, just go for goal,\u2019 Scholes argued.<\/p>\n

\u2018When you\u2019re looking at the game, you\u2019re thinking, \u201cEze\u2019s playing well here, Eze is having a big influence on the game\u201d, and I would\u2019ve thought the other players will be thinking, \u201cThat\u2019s a strange one\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Silva was \u2018unbelievable\u2019 against the Gunners, says Scholes (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Later on in his analysis, Scholes made sure to highlight the \u2018unbelievable\u2019 impact Bernardo Silva made in Sunday\u2019s top-of-the-table clash.<\/p>\n

\u2018You talk about big players standing up. Look at who stood up yesterday\u2026 Bernardo Silva. Unbelievable,\u2019 the 11-time Premier League winner gushed.<\/p>\n

\u2018Where are Arsenal\u2019s players that are going to win you the league in big games like that? Where\u2019s your Declan Rice? Declan Rice is a great player but he wasn\u2019t quite there yesterday.\u2019<\/p>\n

Speaking shortly after Arsenal\u2019s setback in Manchester, a defiant Arteta insisted his \u2018belief\u2019 had not waned given the quality he continues to see from his players on a daily basis in training.<\/p>\n

\u2018I believe today, I believe on Wednesday, I believed a week ago because I see them every day and I know the level that we have,\u2019 the Arsenal head coach told reporters.<\/p>\n

\u2018But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. We are talking about it in the dressing room.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a new league now. We have three points of advantage, they have the game in hand.<\/p>\n

\u2018Everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it and we are not going to stop!\u2019<\/p>\n

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Who will win the Premier League title this season?<\/h3>\n