Arsenal boss explains thinking behind leaving Butler-Oyedeji, 7 others on the bench v Newcastle

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to use only one substitute during his side's goalless draw with Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. 

That decision meant Hale End Academy product Nathan Butler-Oyedeji did not make his competitive debut for the Gunners , having remained rooted to the bench for the entirety of the game. 

Matt Turner, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fábio Vieira and Marquinhos did not taste action too. 

Despite Eddie Nketiah, Martin Ødegaard and Granit Xhaka walking a disciplinary tightrope after picking up bookings in the first half, Arteta's only change made was to replace Ben White with Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu with fourteen minutes remaining on the clock. 

A striker by trade, Butler-Oyedeji was rewarded with his first call-up for the first team after his standout performances for the development squad, especially in the Papa Johns Trophy.  

Arsenal are light in the offensive areas at the moment with Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson recovering from injuries. 

On making one substitution, Arteta said at the post-match press conference : "Listen, we were on top of them, we were chasing the goal. We were in a good moment and I didn't want to make more changes."

Butler-Oyedeji penned a scholarship deal with Arsenal in the summer of 2019, an intake that included Miguel Azeez, who has gone on to make his first team debut. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : arsenal.com

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