Mikel Arteta has said that Bukayo Saka "wasn't comfortable" to start Arsenal's 4-0 thrashing of Leeds United, prompting him to be replaced by Noni Madueke in the starting XI.
Madueke went on to play a starring role in the win, with his cross headed in for Martín Zubimendi for Arsenal's opener, before his corner was punched by Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow into his own net to make it two.
"In the warm-up he had a little niggle, he wasn't comfortable to start the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in," Arteta said after the game.
"And he was ready, because you cannot do that in two minutes. The way he prepares, the way he's waiting for opportunity, I think it paid off today because he really impacted the team."
Kai Havertz was handed his first Premier League start in a year by Arteta, who dropped captain Martin Ødegaard to the bench for the trip to Yorkshire.
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points on Saturday -- and Arteta's decision to reinstate Viktor Gyökeres up front paid off when the Swede got on the end of a Gabriel Martinelli cross in the second half to seal the points.
In midfield, the big surprise came in the shape of Havertz-for-Ødegaard, with Gabriel taking the armband, but the Norwegian replaced Havertz with just over 20 minutes to go.
Sources had told ESPN that there is no injury for Ødegaard, and that the decision was tactical.
Havertz, who last started a league game for Arsenal on Feb. 2, 2025, joined Declan Rice and goalscorer Zubimendi in midfield, with Ødegaard and summer signing Eberechi Eze on the bench.
Speaking in his news conference on Friday, Arteta defended Ødegaard's stats in 2025-26 (one goal in 24 games in all competitions).
"Those are the numbers but we have to give the full numbers as well," Arteta said.
- Arsenal transfers: Latest news, reports and ESPN analysis
- Champions League knockouts: Who could Premier League teams draw
"He's played much less minutes than in any other season as well because he's been injured three times, that's the reality. We want to improve that, for sure, we want him to affect the game in the area where we can win football matches. But you know Martin and how he works every single day, I have no doubt that that will come."
Asked if the midfielder drops deep too much, Arteta replied: "It's a bit of his nature, and my nature is to go to the opposite side.
"But we need to respect as well the qualities and the talent of players, and within that, they need to feel the freedom in attack, especially to do what they believe is best."
Information from ESPN's James Olley was used in this report.
