Arsenal fans have called out Mikel Arteta for a controversial decision made during the Champions League clash against Club Brugge.
On Tuesday night, the Champions League returned with Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona among the sides in action.
The following night, the remainder of the teams competing in the group stage of the competition kicked off, including Arsenal who travel to the Jan Breydel Stadium to face Club Brugge.
With the Gunners currently sitting on top of the Champions League table, the fixture is seen by many as a good opportunity to rest players during a busy festive period.
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Therefore, when the Arsenal lineup for the match was revealed online, fans were quick to call out manager Arteta for his 'disgraceful' decision.
Although key players like Bukayo Saka and star summer signing Eberechi Eze were rested for the match, Arteta decided to name a relatively strong team for the European clash.
Because of this, many of the club's squad players missed out on a chance to get some important minutes ahead of them potentially being needed later in the month.
But it was Arteta's decision to leave England youngster Ethan Nwaneri on the bench that has really annoyed Arsenal fans, and they weren't shy to make their feelings known on social media.
Reacting to the decision, one wrote on X: "Nothing’s changed. People keep saying 'Mikel knows best' while Ethan Nwaneri can’t even get a START in a meaningless game vs Club Brugge.
"It’s embarrassing. After the season he had, giving him zero minutes is a disgrace. The injuries, the stubbornness, the awful squad management — this is all on Arteta. He’s dragging this club down."
Another added: "Feel really bad for Ethan Nwaneri.. he deserved a start in this dead rubber game. Why is Odegaard even starting, rest him for Wolves ffs."
While one claimed: "There is basically no level of opposition that Arteta will play Nwaneri against after such great debut campaign. Strange, strange guy."
That being said, Arteta's decision to play a strong lineup quickly paid off after Noni Madueke, who started on the right wing in place of Nwaneri, opened the scoring with a spectacular finish.
Early in the second half, Madueke doubled his tally for the evening, putting the visitors two goals up in the fixture.
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Champions League, Football, Club Brugge
Ben McCrum