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Mikel Arteta discussed his team selection for the Atletico semi-final and how he communicated with players not starting. He shared insights into their reactions and his decision-making process.
Arteta shares how players reacted to his Atletico team selection
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Arsenal fans were generally a little surprised upon seeing Tuesday nightâs team to face Atletico Madrid, as it was exactly the same side that had faced Fulham a few days earlier.
The expectation was that more of the players who had featured in the first leg would have returned to the team, but that wasnât the case.
Mikel Arteta himself admitted he went through multiple alternative options before landing on the team he ultimately started on Tuesday, and it wasnât an easy call to make.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
âIf you see my iPad, the amount of line-ups Iâve done and changed and turned it again, and what about this and the possible subs and if they do that, we do this,â Arteta said.
âIn the end it was my gut feeling. I had such a good feeling from what I saw a few days ago against Fulham.
âTo do that, it was painful because it was difficult to leave important players out because they all want to be involved and start this kind of game. You saw all the finishers, the manner that they got into the pitch and how much they helped the team.â
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
As Arteta mentions, Tuesdayâs team meant breaking bad news to a number of players, with Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, and Piero Hincapie all starting the first leg only to drop to the bench.
But the Arsenal boss says the players had the right response to his decision to leave them out of the lineup.
âI went to some of the players and told them: Iâm sorry, but Iâll be picking the same lineup against Fulham,â Arteta recalled. âThey said to me: âBoss! Weâre here whenever you need us, and then they hugged me.'â
Those players will now be training hard for the chance to start Arsenalâs remaining Premier League fixtures, and to earn a spot in the lineup for the Champions League final.
Mikel Arteta explained his thought process behind the team selection, focusing on strategic decisions for the match.
Arteta shared that he communicated with players who wouldn't be starting, detailing their reactions to the news.
Arteta's decisions were influenced by tactical considerations and the specific dynamics of the match against Atletico.
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