Arsenal youngsters to benefit from new subs rule as Mikel Arteta puts Pep Guardiola's lessons into practice

With Premier League clubs now allowed to make five substitutions from a bench of nine players, the likes of Saka, Nelson, Nketiah and Martinelli will see more action
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In this Covid-19 era, football is going to look and feel very different upon its return.

From empty stadia to cardboard cut-outs of fans, the game that we all knew before the lockdown faces some changes.

It is not just aesthetically that football will be different, as for the first time ever Premier League clubs will be able to make five substitutions in a match.

At first glance it feels like a minor tweak going from three to five substitutions, but in reality it could have a noticeable impact.

“It gives more opportunities to rest players when you have a congested schedule,” Arsene Wenger told The Athletic earlier this week.

“It gives more tactical flexibility to the managers to change things during the game.

“When you have three substitutions, you really have two because you always have to keep one in case you have an injury.”

It is the tactical flexibility offered to managers that will be most intriguing. Head coaches often moan after matches they wished they could have taken off the whole team at half-time…well now they can at least swap half the side.

That is a decisive difference from before and particularly of benefit to Arsenal, who in Mikel Arteta have a head coach making his first steps in the game.

As Wenger pointed out, managers are often restricted by their ability to make three substitutions - which he stresses in reality is really two.

Arteta is no different in that regard, particularly given he is just starting out as number one, and it was noticeable in a match away at Chelsea earlier this year how the Spaniard twice changed his mind over substitutions as he coped with David Luiz being sent off.

Now Arteta can operate with greater tactical flexibility given the potential to make five substitutions and, given he learned under Pep Guardiola, such a luxury should be something he relishes.

The general consensus is that those with the deepest squads in the Premier League will benefit from the increased number of substitutions.

Such a point stands true when you consider the likes of Manchester City can essentially swap their front-five and have a brand new attack - of the near same quality - whenever they like.

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Arsenal may not have the same riches at their disposal as the likes of City, but this instead is an opportunity for them to give minutes to promising young players.

The financial implications of the coronavirus on Arsenal have been clear to see by the fact players at the club have taken pay cuts.

As a result, it is unlikely we will see the Gunners spending big in the summer transfer market and instead Arteta is likely going to have to place his trust in the young players at the club.

Thankfully for Arsenal, they have a number of promising players in their ranks - namely the likes of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson.

They, however, are players who could have struggled for minutes in the final matches of the campaign but now, with the benefit of five substitutions, that should change.

Suddenly young players at Arsenal will have a greater chance to shine from off the bench and the minutes they gain could be valuable as the club prepares for their long-term future in this Covid-19 era.

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