Champions League: Do you trust your players – Walcott questions Arteta after Arsenal’s loss to Porto

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Champions League: Do you trust your players – Walcott questions Arteta after Arsenal’s loss to Porto

Former Arsenal forward, Theo Walcott has questioned manager, Mikel Arteta if he trusts his players after their Champions League Round of 16 defeat to Porto on Wednesday.

Walcott believes Arteta may have trust issues with some of his players after he made just one substitution during the game.

Jorginho replaced Leandro Trossard with 16 minutes remaining, while Porto made four substitutions in the second half as they pushed for the winning goal, thanks to Galeno’s fine strike.

The likes of Mohamed Elneny, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson were among those who were not brought on in the second half.

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Walcott said: “Martinelli, for instance, could be tired, he has worked a lot, he is working really hard, tracking his full-back quite a lot tonight. Of course, yes, lazy pass, loses the ball [for Porto’s goal], but then I have just got to question this squad depth of Arsenal at the start of the game – does Mikel trust the players?

“He only brought on one sub tonight and I just feel it could’ve been a game where we completely just shut up shop, maybe just slow it down even slower than it was and take off certain players, obviously [Bukayo] Saka wasn’t as effective tonight.

“It will be completely different at the Emirates, I’m sure, but as a coach would you feel you’d want to make more subs knowing that the game is stagnating?

“It is a tricky one because with Arsenal obviously Mikel always tends to play the same team, you always know who will be playing, same sort of substitutes come on, but yes, maybe, the lack of experience in the Champions League with certain players, but you have got your likes of Elneny who has been around the club and has been the longest-serving player for a long time now, where he is smart in the game, knows how to slow it down, Jorginho, of course, comes on and is experienced enough.”