ROY KEANE has slammed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for making six changes to his team for their FA Cup fourth-round clash with Man City.
The Premier League’s top two go head-to-head at the Etihad on Friday night for a place in the fifth round of football’s oldest competition.
Yet despite the magnitude of the clash, Arteta has rotated several players following the 3-2 win over Man Utd on Sunday.
Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli have all come out of the side.
That has made space for Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Fabio Vieira and Leandro Trossard to all start.
Man City have made just two changes from the 3-0 win over Wolves last weekend.
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And Keane was not impressed with Arteta’s decision to swap a host of his key players out for the match.
Alongside Arsenal legend Ian Wright in the ITV studio, the former Man Utd man said: “It’s a huge gamble to make so many changes, particularly in the defensive position, the goalkeepers.
“We thought he’d make one or two, but that’s such a gamble to make so many changes at the back, especially with the attacking players Man City have got.”
When pressed on whether he understands why Arteta decided to rotate, Keane then added: “Yes and no. The priority for Arsenal – because they’ve had such a great start – is of course the league.
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“But I just think to make so many changes defensively, people talking about the priorities, but it’s still January. They’ve got no midweek game coming up.
“Huge risk and I’m pretty sure it will backfire on him.”
That was before Wright said: “He’s moving the team around, he wants to see what the players are capable of – the back-up players – against a real top side.
“If this season is going to go how they want it to go and how we all want it to go then you’re going to need some players at certain stages.
“Plus, I think these players need minutes. And you want minutes against good teams, top teams, so you can really see what you’re about.
“I think that’s what he’s going to do today. He’s going to find out about a few more players.”
Wright then later addressed Keane directly, saying: “You telling me they’re not looking forward to a game like this? This is a game that makes or breaks for some of them!”
Arteta won the FA Cup with Arsenal back in 2020, less than six months after taking over as manager.
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Arsenal currently sit five points clear of Man City in the Premier League table and also have a game in hand.
The two sides meet in the league for the first time this season at the Emirates on February 15.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
