Jamie Redknapp questions Arsenal’s tactical change in clash with West Ham
Jamie Redknapp has questioned Arsenal’s decision to move Declan Rice to right-back during their Premier League clash with West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, reports BritPanorama.
Ben White was forced out of the match due to an injury following a collision with Crysencio Summerville. Despite having two defenders on the bench, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta opted to shift Rice out of position instead of calling upon either Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapie. Martin Zubimendi was brought on as a substitute, raising eyebrows among analysts.
Rice has been a standout performer for Arsenal this season, and his deployment in an unfamiliar role during such a high-stakes match was met with skepticism. After Real Madrid’s former player Mosquera was introduced, Rice was reverted back to his original position, suggesting that Arteta recognized the tactical error.
Speaking at half-time, Redknapp expressed disbelief at the substitution choice, stating, “Playing Rice at right back was one of the strangest decisions I’ve seen this season. I couldn’t get my head around it.” Others, including Gary Neville, shared similar sentiments, with Neville remarking, “Taking him out of the middle of the pitch is a big call.”
Arsenal began the match stronger, with West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen forced into action early on. However, the team’s momentum faltered once Rice moved to full-back, and West Ham ended the first half looking more formidable. White, a critical figure for Arteta this term and set to compete in the Champions League final, now faces uncertainty regarding the severity of his injury.
While Arsenal aimed for a point against West Ham, the implications of a disappointing result could be significant. Should Manchester City win their game in hand against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, they will draw level on points at the top of the table. A reminder, indeed, of the razor-thin margins that define this tightly contested Premier League season.
