Premier League legend Kevin Phillips was frustrated to see Arsenal bring Bukayo Saka off the bench in an attempt to kill off AFC Wimbledon during last night’s EFL Cup third-round clash, speaking to Quest.
While it would be a tad overdramatic to suggest a 3-0 scoreline flattered the hosts – third-tier Wimbledon barely threatened Bernd Leno’s goal all night – it was still a far from stellar display from Mikel Arteta’s second string in front of an expectant Emirates crowd.
An early Alexandre Lacazette penalty was all Arsenal had to show for their efforts until under-fire Arteta was forced to bring his teenage whizzkid off the bench with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Within four minutes of his introduction, Saka found himself at the heart of two goals that took the game beyond a brave Wimbledon side. Fellow sub Emile Smith Rowe converted from close range before Eddie Nketiah offered a timely reminder of his quality with an ingenious back-heeled finish.
“It wasn’t a very convincing win – but it was a win!” reflected Phillips, the former Sunderland and Southampton striker.
“For me, being an Arsenal fan, it’s slightly sad a 19-year-old has to come on after the summer he’s had and change the game when you’ve got some leaders on the pitch like Lacazette. They’re the ones who should be inspiring the win.
Can Arsenal go all the way in the EFL Cup after Wimbledon win?
“Nevertheless, Arsenal got the victory they did deserve in the end.”
Beyond Saka’s game-changing introduction, there were some welcome positives for an Arsenal side that has won three games in a row, albeit against limited opposition.
Nuno Tavares was a bundle of energy and endeavour down the left – the width of a post away from his first Gunners goal – while the seldom seen Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Gabriel Martinelli did their hopes of a more regular role no harm at all.
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