Mikel Arteta’s Decision Backfires as Arsenal Fans Turn on Star Player

Arsenal fans are furious with Mikel Arteta for starting one player against Manchester City that they never want to say play again.

After an exciting weekend of Premier League fixtures that saw Manchester United beat Chelsea and Liverpool win the Merseyside derby, Manchester City travelled to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

With both Arsenal and City hoping to dethrone current leaders Liverpool as Premier League champions, the result of the match could prove crucial for the title race.

After a cagey affair, it looked all but certain that a goal from in-form City star Erling Haaland would seal the win for the visitors, but a late goal from Gabriel Martinelli lead to a final score of 1-1.

However, despite the fact that Arsenal managed to secure an unlikely draw from the fixture, fans are not happy with Arteta for a decision he made with the starting lineup.

(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Although fans would have been happy to see star player Bukayo Saka back on the bench following his hamstring injury, the biggest surprise in the teamsheets was Arteta's decision to leave new singing Eberechi Eze out of the XI.

Instead, the Arsenal boss opted for Mikel Merino, a decision which Arsenal fans have made clear that they are not at all happy about.

Reacting to the decision to start Merino, one fan wrote on X: "Arteta has fully convinced himself that Zubi/Rice/Merino works in big games, and he'll always play them unless one of them is injured. Unbelievably frustrating."

While another sarcastically added: "Genuinely feel for arteta man. why didn’t we back him in the summer? He’s forced to play Merino as an attacking midfielder, if only he had a player like Eze at his disposal."

And it appears that the fans were proven right late in the game as it was Eze's precise pass that set up Martinelli's equaliser late in the game, fURTHER infuriating fans who claim they could have won the match if the former Palace man had been given more time.

One claimed: "This is why Eze should’ve started this game. Could have won the game if Arteta didn't start Merino."

Eberechi Eze replaced Mikel Merino at half-time. (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

The result takes Arsenal up to second in the league table, ahead of historic rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth on goal difference, and leaves them five points behind first-placed Liverpool.

Meanwhile City sit ninth in the table, eight points behind Liverpool and three behind the Gunners.