You little tinker, Mikel
ARTETA: I HAVE TO SHUFFLE MY PACK TO KEEP GUNNERS SQUAD FIT & HEALTHY
MIKEL ARTETA is happy to be a tinker during the title run-in.
Nobody could ever accuse the Arsenal boss of making line-up changes for the sake of it, and of his rivals at the top, he has made the fewest.
He’s not Claudio Ranieri, the original tinkerman who shuffled his pack every five minutes. But the Spaniard has been rotating every game – in specific areas – to ensure there is no let up in their bid for an elusive first title in 20 years.
If not Gabriel Martinelli in the leftwing position, it is fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus. Or, if neither of them, in steps Belgium hotshot Leandro Trossard instead. As for the inverted full-back role on the same flank, take your pick from Polish youngster Jakub Kiwior, Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko or fit-again Japan ace Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Today, Arsenal face a real test as Aston Villa are in their own two-team battle with Tottenham for the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Arteta said: “Having the squad healthy, and the players we have available is obviously a big bonus.
“Of course, it’s about making the right changes.
They are always right – if you win. That’s the only judgment you’re going to get.
“But our intention is to keep everyone involved, feeling important and fresh. That’s going to be crucial.”
One man not on the rotation list is the irrepressible Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal winger grabbed his 18th goal of the season in last week’s 2-2 Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
Saka is one short of becoming the first Englishman at the club to score 15 in a league campaign since Ian Wright back in 1995-96.
Arteta added: “He has to keep learning from what Ian did – his character, his consistency, the hunger that he had always to improve and be in front of goal. If he does that, with the players he has around him, he has a chance.”
Saka’s willingness to put up with being physically targeted every game has also impressed Arteta. The Spanish coach explained: “That’s a quality a team that wants to be successful has to have because you have to go through pain and difficult moments, as well as good moments.
“You have to be able to cope with all those things to be at the top.”