{"id":321702,"date":"2026-04-20T15:03:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=321702"},"modified":"2026-04-20T15:03:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:33:57","slug":"wayne-rooney-questions-strange-mikel-arteta-decision-to-drop-arsenal-star-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/20\/wayne-rooney-questions-strange-mikel-arteta-decision-to-drop-arsenal-star-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Rooney questions ‘strange’ Mikel Arteta decision to drop Arsenal star | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wayne Rooney believes Mikel Arteta\u2019s selection gamble backfired (Picture: BBC Sport)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wayne Rooney fears Mikel Arteta\u2019s \u2018strange\u2019 decision to bench Viktor Gyokeres could have a harmful impact on the Arsenal striker\u2019s confidence. <\/p>\n

The Gunners knew a win on the Etihad would all-but secure their first Premier League title since 2004, but despite a much improved performance Arteta\u2019s side slipped to a harmful 2-1 defeat.<\/p>\n

Manchester City will go top of the table on goal difference with a win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday with five games remaining. <\/p>\n

Should each teams claim maximum points then the destination of the title will boil right down to a straight gunfight which City would feel confident of prevailing in given their array of attacking options. <\/p>\n

Gyokeres, Arsenal\u2019s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, was dropped for Sunday\u2019s summit meeting with Arteta opting to begin with Kai Havertz as a substitute.<\/p>\n

The Germany international scored his side\u2019s equaslier, charging down Gianluigi Donnarumma\u2019s clearance, but missed two huge probabilities either side of Erling Haaland\u2019s sixty fifth minute winner. <\/p>\n

Gyokeres was introduced to the fray with 14 minutes, including injury time, remaining but did not adjust to the pace of the sport and didn\u2019t register a single touch during his time on the pitch.<\/p>\n

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Viktor Gyokeres was dropped from Arsenal\u2019s starting line-up vs Man City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I believe these decisions if he comes on and scores the winner or scores the equalising goal obviously it\u2019s the correct decision,\u2019 Rooney told the BBC when asked about Arteta omitting his \u00a360m summer signing from such a major game. <\/p>\n

\u2018I believed with him not starting, Arsenal would\u2019ve tried to take a seat in there. It was an odd one him not starting since you bring a No.9 during which they\u2019ve been on the lookout for all season, and I actually think he\u2019s done OK, to not start him in such a giant game I believe that may effect him.\u2019<\/p>\n

Despite the image looking bleak following a run of 4 successive domestic defeattl, Rooney stays adamant there remains to be loads of room for optimism from an Arsenal perspective. <\/p>\n

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Kai Havertz missed two huge probabilities against Man City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He said: \u2018This title race is just not over yet, I still feel like there are some more twists and turns to come back. It’s is clearly going to be tight but City have gotten another game to attempt to win, so I still have Arsenal down as slight favourites.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve been in this example myself, where it’s essential to win all of your games for the title. <\/p>\n

\u2018You take a look at your games and you think that well we must always win this one, or that one, but it surely never pans out that way.<\/p>\n

\u2018From now until the top of the season it’s just going to be right down to which team keeps their composure one of the best \u2013 that\u2019s who will win it.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Arsenal have let an enormous lead slip within the title race (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Who will win the Premier League title?<\/h3>\n