I don't think anyone is contesting that O'Brien shouldn't have played. I think people are frustrated with his continued use at right back. Our right side was getting torn apart in the first half.
For me, I was fine with resting Branthwaite but I wasn't okay with playing 2 players out of position in Armstrong and O'Brien, particularly when we had Patterson, Dibling and George available.
This. That’s what all of us are seeing and you expressed it perfectly. It’s not one lineup fits all situations and clubs. What’s the point of buying players only to bench them?
We need competition. It breeds success and always trying to outdo another for your position.
You can’t be soft. This is one area where I think Pep Guardiola’s style of being cold, changing lineups, sitting his stars, and not being your friend helps him make better decisions that aren’t based on emotion but winning and winning only. That is his job and I think he does it well.
This is where Arteta falls a little short. He’s got that mentality mostly but he doesn’t cut the head off the snake and it’s why Arsenal hasn’t won or can be surpassed.
The best managers got a bit of a-hole in them.
