Martin Keown has praised Noni Madueke for ‘transforming’ Arsenal of their Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen after replacing Bukayo Saka within the second-half.
The Gunners rescued a late draw because of Kai Havertz’s penalty in the primary leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in Germany on Wednesday night.
It got here after a quite limp and drained performance from the Premier League leaders who were caught sleeping at the beginning of the second-half, undone by a set piece as Robert Andrich headed the hosts in front.
Arteta made 10 changes to the side that beat Mansfield Town within the FA Cup on Saturday with a primary selection XI restored. Saka was amongst those back within the side but struggled to make any real impact.
He was replaced by Madueke on the hour mark with the previous Chelsea star winning the penalty that secured a draw for his side ahead of the return leg in north London next week.
Former Arsenal star Keown hailed the ‘decisive’ decision to exchange Saka on the night, believing the introduction of Madueke modified the sport.
‘They were actually very sloppy at the beginning of the second-half so they’ll have a look at that the decisive management of Arteta, taking Saka off who was not having one in all his best nights,’ Keown told TNT Sports.
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Enroll here, it’s an open goal.
‘There have been reasons for that, it wasn’t just his fault, the structure on that right hand side just wasn’t right.
‘Madueke with that driving run getting the penalty, he was so dynamic when he got here on and I believe he transformed Arsenal on that right hand side.’
But asked if Madueke could now start ahead of Saka, Keown was not convinced.
‘No. There are other the explanation why it didn’t work over on that right hand side,’ he said.
‘You concentrate on what they’ve had through the years with Odegaard, he can be on there to enrich that three.
‘You would possibly have Ben White making runs down the surface and Timber is coming inside they usually were doubling up on him. It wasn’t easy but Madueke found a approach to get through.’
MORE: Newcastle set £60 million asking price for Arsenal transfer goal
MORE: Mikel Arteta reveals Xabi Alonso convinced him to sign £45m Arsenal star
MORE: Enzo Fernandez stance on Chelsea transfer as PSG make contact with £107m star