GUNNERS’ ART OF ROTATION
MIKEL ARTETA is happy to be a tinkerman during the title run-in. Nobody could ever accuse the Arsenal boss of making changes for the sake of it – he has made the fewest among the top clubs this season. Arteta is certainly no Claudio Ranieri – the original Tinkerman constantly shuffling his pack – but the Spaniard has been rotating every game recently to ensure there is no let-up in the Gunners’ bid for a first Premier League title in 20 years.
On the left wing, it has been Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus or Leandro Trossard.at full-back on the same flank, take your pick from Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Takehiro Tomiyasu.
That ability to rotate a virtually injury-free squad – only Jurrien Timber is unavailable – is a key advantage for a North London side unbeaten in the Premier League in 2024 and juggling domestic and European ambitions.
Ahead of today’s visit of fourth-placed Aston Villa, Arteta declared: “Having the squad healthy and the players we have available is obviously a big bonus.
“Of course, it’s about making the right changes. The answer to that is they are always right…if you win!
“But our intention is to keep everyone involved, feeling important and fresh. That’s going to be crucial.”
One man seemingly never up for rotation in Arteta’s mind is irrepressible Bukayo Saka, who needs one goal to become the first Englishman at the club to score 15 in a league campaign since Ianwright in 1995-96.
Asked what the England star must to do to gainwright’s legendary status atarsenal,arteta said: “Keep learning from what Ian did – his character, his consistency, the hunger that he had always to improve.”