The games are coming thick and fast with Arsenal amid a run of four games in four different competitions, forcing Mikel Arteta to rotate, rest and give chances to players down on minutes and out of form.
The first game saw Arteta put out a heavily rotated side in a 4-1 victory over Portsmouth in the FA Cup, affording starts to the likes of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Ethan Nwaneri, all of which have struggled for minutes recently.
With focuses and priorities changing between each competition, it’s not only a great chance to rest star players, but also a chance for players to prove why they should be starting more games.
Gabriel Martinelli got the nod on the left wing and netted a hattrick to power Arsenal through to the next round, putting forward a strong case for more minutes in the Premier League and Champions League.
On the flip side, Eze struggled to make an impact on the game after a long run out of the team over the festive period.
It gives Arteta an opportunity to make examples of players and set standards for his side, rewarding players taking their chance.
Everyone has an important role to play over the course of a season, and with a big squad and players returning in midfield and attack, form will become the deciding factor when the manager picks his starting 11 for the big games.
Arsenal, and Arteta, are at the point where trophies are everything. It’s been five and a half years since the FA Cup win and the team’s last major trophy, and three consecutive second place finishes in the Premier League has put mounting pressure on the club.
A lot has been made of Arsenal’s squad depth, which has already coped well with spells of heavy injuries, putting the team in strong position on all four fronts, but the challenge Arteta faces is getting the balance between over rotation and pushing for silverware.
Get it wrong and Arteta risks burning the players out and costing the team in multiple competitions. Get it right, with rest and motivation, and Arsenal will be on the cusp of several trophies.
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