14 December 2023 , 04:00
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Arsenal's focus returns to the Premier League after the Gunners completed their Champions League group stage campaign on Tuesday.
A visit from Brighton on Sunday is next up for Mikel Arteta's men, who are just one point behind leaders Liverpool. A draw with PSV Eindhoven confirmed their place in the last 16, with the Gunners set to discover their opponents on Monday.
Arteta took some risks in what was ultimately a dead-rubber against the Eredivisie side, but the Spaniard has now defended the move to play his senior stars. Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest Arsenal news.
Arteta defends snub
Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to leave three of Arsenal's young stars on the bench during the draw with PSV. Highly-rated teenagers Ethan Nwaneri, Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters all missed out on any game time, but Arteta is adamant that was the right move.
"I don't think it was the right context," the Spaniard said. "Making eight changes already, to throw them in there against a team that hasn't lost at home in nearly two years, I didn't think it was the right moment.
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"I wanted to see how the game developed, but it was too much I think for them and as well we had three little issues, and we had to play the subs, and we had no room because we really wanted to play Emile as well."
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Gunners urged to refocus
Mikel Arteta wants his Arsenal side to refocus after drawing with PSV Eindhoven (Getty Images)Gunners boss Arteta has urged his side to put their full focus on the Premier League after playing their sixth and final Champions League group game. The Gunners will not return to European action until February and Arteta wants to put that aside.
"Overall, I think, very positive. Having not been in the competition for six or seven years and having a team that hasn't got that much experience, I think we've competed really well. I really liked the approach of the team in every single game, the way we've tried to play," he said.
"Overall finishing first with a game to play we have to be really happy. Now we have to now close that chapter until February and make sure that when that chapter opens up again that we're in the best place to compete against another top side."
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Arteta admits Rice 'emergency'
Arteta has also explained that the reason he used Declan Rice at centre-back against PSV was to use him as a test in case an injury crisis hits. Centre-back is one of the positions where Arsenal are thin on the ground, with Rice seen as a potential alternative option.
“We are very short at the back and I really wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation,” Arteta explained afterwards. “I thought he was really good,
“We have to try as if we have an emergency, we have to understand and to be sure that we can fill that gap in the right way. He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option.”
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