Danny Murphy has said on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:39pm, March 4, 2023) Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was “ruthless” with right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and attacker Emile Smith Rowe against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has noted how Arsenal boss Arteta did not have any problem in taking off Tomiyasu and Smith Rowe.
Japan international right-back Tomiyasu started the match against Bournemouth.
Arteta decided to take off him at half time.
Ben White came on in his place.
The England international right-back scored the second goal for the Gunners.
Smith Rowe, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, came on as substitute in the first half when Leandro Trossard got injured.
The 22-year-old provided an assist, but other than that, he did not have a massive impact on the match.
Arteta decided to take off the England international in the second half.
Reiss Nelson came on in the place of Smith Rowe.
The 23-year-old winger provided the assist for White’s goal and then scored the winner late on.
Danny Murphy on Mikel Arteta being ‘ruthless’ with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe
Murphy said: “He made two substitutions today that were ruthless. Tomiyasu at half time for not playing particularly well. Ben White came on and scored the goal.
” He brings Emile Smith Rowe off who had already come on as a sub, to sub a sub, to bring Reiss Nelson on, not thinking really about the player and the effect.
“He is thinking, ‘This is what we need for the team’. And I thought that was a brilliant bit of management.”
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