Mikel Arteta has dismissed the notion that he substituted Nuno Tavares at half-time of Arsenal’s defeat to Crystal Palace because of the player’s performance.
The Portuguese youngster lost Jordan Ayew for the Eagles’ second goal of the 3-0 loss on Monday night before his early exit, echoing the similar result to his last start against Nottingham Forest in January.
But Arteta has insisted that he hooked Tavares as a forward-thinking tactical change, to allow Gabriel Martinelli to come on and drop Emile Smith Rowe deeper.
“Today was just a tactical reason for how I wanted to do it with what Palace was doing and how we could attack and control the game much better in that position,” explained the Gunners boss.
“We wanted to put another attacking midfielder with Emile in that space and that was the only reason. I’m sorry that it was Nuno again, but we had to do it.”
Pundits lined up to criticise left-back Tavares, who cost £8million last summer and could be set for a long run into the team following Kieran Tierney’s injury.
“He is at fault for the second goal but it’s not just this goal,” Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports at half-time of the match.
“This is something you’re taught as a young kid, when you’re a defender, you’ve got to think the person next to you is a dummy and a poor player.
“Tavares stops, Ayew keeps running because he thinks Gabriel’s going to miss it, Tavares thinks he’s going to cut it out, so he stops.”
Darren Bent agreed that the 22-year-old has a lot to learn if his defensive capabilities are going to make the grade at Arsenal.
“It just felt like I was in a time machine and just watching Arsenal from the start of the season,” Bent said on talkSPORT.
“I've seen Tavares play twice, I saw him get ruined at Nottingham Forest and then again last night.
“And in the commentary Jamie Carragher called it, he said he has to come off at half-time and he did. He got absolutely ruined, he was out of position and not good enough on the ball.
“I know his reputation and people say, ‘He's going to be a good player’ - but [there is a] drop-off when Kieran Tierney is not playing.”
