Why Declan Rice isn't starting for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta explains major decision

Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to drop Declan Rice for Arsenal's clash at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Gunners meet Forest in the early kick-off - as Ange Postecoglou returns to north London for his first match in charge of his new club. Arteta has managed three victories and a draw from his four meetings with the Australian and will be targeting another win here.

Buoyed by September's positive first international break, which fortunately did not see any players suffer a fitness concern, he has also welcomed new signing Piero Hincapie to the group for the first time. However, William Saliba is not in the squad despite managing to train with the side on Friday.

Arsenal will also start the match without their key midfielder, Rice. Now, Arteta has explained his decision before kick-off.

"Yes [rotation] and connections on the pitch with all the games we are going to play in the next 21 or 22 days.," he told TNT Sports. They also played as well with the national teams. [It's about] Finding that balance and making sure everyone is connected. We have very good [other] players."

When asked why William Saliba is absent from the side, Arteta said: "He trained yesterday, but at the end of the session I spoke to him and he wasn't really fully ready to start the game or contribute [as needed], so we decided not to put him in the squad."

On Eberechi Eze's inclusion, he added: "It's very exciting. There is a different connection. This front three has never played together and it's something that I'm very excited to see as well, how those connections develop."

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.