Gary Neville thinks Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta does not have faith in £34m summer signing Fabio Vieira, who remained on the bench in the 0-0 draw against Newcastle United.
The draw means the Gunners are now eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City. The home team controlled most of the ball and created a couple of clear-cut chances in the first half.
Eddie Howe’s team was well-drilled defensively, and they made it difficult for the north Londoners to penetrate through the middle. However, they continued to mount pressure on the visitors in the second half. Nick Pope was forced to make a smart save in the game’s dying stages to stop Eddie Nketiah from scoring as the game ended in a stalemate.
Mikel Arteta just made a single substitution, bringing Takehiro Tomiyasu for Ben White midway through the first half. The likes of Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Marquinhos were left on the bench.
The £34m summer signing from Porto was an unused substitute for the second game in a row. He has just started two Premier League games all season.
Neville suggested that the Gunners’ boss does not have confidence in the bench to impact the game. While speaking on Sky Sports(as per Metro), the former Manchester United star said:
“Fabio Vieira cost £ 34 million. Mikel obviously thought he would’ve weakened the side by bringing him on. They do rely on the perfect pass and the thread, they haven’t got full-backs that deliver really good crosses, they haven’t got a midfield player that switches play or plays De Bruyne-style crosses.
“They’re always relying on the short bits of play around the box, which Newcastle to be fair defended so well and so resiliently and so compactly, made it so difficult for them, and they didn’t have another plan off the bench.”
Arsenal Fever View:
The Gunners were building momentum in the second half. And perhaps, Arteta felt a change would have disrupted his side. Undoubtedly, Vieira is a talented youngster, but he will require some time to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League.
If the Gunners are to challenge for the title, they need to reinforce their squad in the winter transfer window. The draw with Newcastle shows why it is crucial to have a player capable of making an impact off the bench.
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