Mikel Arteta explains why he refused to play youngsters against PSV

Mikel Arteta explains it wouldn’t be fair to play the young Arsenal players.

The Gunners boss was expected to feature the trio of Ethan Nwaneri, Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters against PSV last night.

Many expected Mikel Arteta to field one of the teenagers against the French club in their 1-1 stalemate.

This was the final game of the group stages and Mikel Arteta has already secured a top spot and earned a place in the knockout rounds.

Arteta made eight changes to his starting lineup and named the trio on the bench.

But Nwaneri, Sousa and Walters were snubbed even after Arteta hinted that the academy products could start ahead of the game.

Arteta said: “I don’t think it was the right context. Making eight changes already, to throw them in there against a team that hasn’t lost at home in nearly two years, I didn’t think it was the right moment.

“I wanted to see how the game developed, but it was too much I think for them and as well we had three little issues, and we had to play the subs, and we had no room because we really wanted to play Emile as well.”