Arteta sees fringe benefits as young Gunners impress
MIKEL ARTETA gave Arsenal’s shadow side hope they can break into his Premier League team after making it a perfect six wins out of six in their Europa League group.
With the Gunners 15th in the Premier League after Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham, boss Arteta made 11 changes and gave several fringe players a run-out.
And there were a number of impressive performances as a youthful side racked up an entertaining win in Dundalk’s last game of the season, days after lifting a sixth successive FAI Cup.
Arteta said: ‘We have to forget about the Europa League till February and focus on the Premier League strongly and the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when it restarts in January.
‘Now we need everybody on board. Obviously we have a large squad and we have a lot of players back from injury so we will have the opportunity to pick who is better in the moment to still rotate some players.
‘That gives us more options in the Premier League as well to focus there and to get the results that we need.’
Eddie Nketiah staked the most obvious claim to start against Burnley on
£1.4m
Windfall for Rangers, who will be seeded in the last 32 after a 2-0 win at Lech Poznan saw them win Group D
3-2
Win for eliminated Celtic over Lille, with David Turnbull getting the winner
Sunday as he became the club’s joint top goalscorer this season when he put them ahead, joining Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette on four goals.
‘He’s lively. He’s got the hunger,’ said Arteta. ‘He’s only satisfied when he scores and is an option for sure.’
Mohamed Elneny also provided a reminder of his qualities and doubled the lead with a fine long-range strike but former Wigan youngster Jordan Flores pulled one back.
Substitute Folarin Balogun set up Joe Willock for Arsenal’s third three minutes after coming on and finished off a good move to make it four before Sean Hoare grabbed a second consolation.
Fit-again Calum Chambers was denied a last-minute goal to crown his first start for a year by an offside flag.