'This is insanity'... Arsenal fans can't believe what Mikel Arteta did against Man City
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Ciaran Morrison
Sun 21 September 2025 17:18, UK
Arsenal supporters have been left raging at manager Mikel Arteta for a decision he made against Man City.
Gabriel Martinelli was the super sub as Arsenal defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in midweek to begin their Champions League campaign with a win.
Arsenal had extra preparation time over Man City before Mikel Arteta was reacquainted with Pep Guardiola.
The pair have had a number of intense battles over the past couple of seasons as they have both battled for the Premier League title.
Fans thought Mikel Arteta made a wrong call vs Man City.
Eberechi Eze started against Nottingham Forest and Athletic Bilbao, and many expected the summer arrival to start against Man City.
Instead, Arteta decided to start Leandro Trossard on the left and Mikel Merino kept his place in midfield with Martin Odegaard out with a shoulder problem.
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One supporter said on social media: “All the creativity is on the bench.
Mikel Arteta i can’t defend this if we lose,” a fan said.
“Playing Merino as a 10 when you have Eze and Nwaneri on the bench.
This Merino 10 gimmick will be the end of this manager,” someone else pointed out.
An Arsenal fan also wrote: “Why’s Arteta always scared You don’t need 3 DMs against city,play Eze in the middle.”
Arteta looked to defensive solidity in his midfield choice against Man City, rather than switching Odegaard for a like-for-like replacement.
Eze would have brought that creativity into the midfield which Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice cannot.