Mikel Arteta insists it "didn't make any sense" to take off Rob Holding and replace him with Ben White before the former was sent off in Arsenal's 3-0 defeat by Tottenham.
Holding picked up two yellow cards within seven minutes for fouls on Son Heung-min. White looked as if he was going to come on for Holding shortly before the defender picked up his second booking, but Arteta opted against making the switch.
The Arsenal manager's apparent hesitation cost him dearly after Holding threw an elbow at Son and was given his marching orders. But Arteta insists he wasn't looking to make the substitution because it didn't make sense in the moment.
"To take the risk in that situation with the game how it was didn't make any sense," Arteta told the press. "Now the focus is on Newcastle. This game is history."
Things went from bad to worse for the 10 men of Arsenal, who were well beaten by Spurs, when Gabriel Magalhaes picked up an injury and limped off the pitch a quarter of an hour before the end.
Arteta is now facing being without the Brazilian and Holding for the Gunners' clash with Newcastle next week.
"Gabby felt something so hopefully (White) will be fit, hopefully, we can recover Gabby," Arteta added. "If we don't have enough players in the backline. We have two games to play and it's in our hands so we have to do our job."
Arteta was visibly furious after the match and refused to discuss the decisions he believed went against his side.
"If I say what I think I am suspended six months," the Spaniard said, adopting Jose Mourinho's approach to interviews. "I am allowed to give my interpretation of what I thought, but I do not like to lie.
"I cannot say what I think, I will be suspended. I am so proud of my players. Ask the referee to come here and explain his decisions. That's his decision. Such a beautiful game was destroyed here."
