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Arsenal news: The real reason Aubameyang, Ozil and Torreira were dropped vs Spurs - Jenas
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery wanted a more defensive approach against Tottenham on Saturday - and that is why he rang the changes in his starting XI.
That is the opinion of BT Sport pundit and former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
Emery made five changes from Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira and Mesut Ozil all dropped to the bench.
Sead Kolasinac also missed out on a starting spot at Wembley, with Carl Jenkinson dropping out of the squad altogether.
He’s obviously come here thinking ‘defensively we need to be much stronger than maybe we have been at top away games'
Heading into the match, Arsenal were yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season.
They had also suffered heavy defeats against rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
Jenas says that was in Emery’s thinking in leaving out the likes of Aubameyang, Torreira and Ozil.
And he also admits it was a strong looking bench if the game was tight late in the game.
“If for example this game went into the 60th, 70th minute and it was 0-0, he’s got some nice riches to choose from to make something happen within this game,” Jenas said.
“He’s got options to move things around there.
“From Unai Emery’s point of view, tactically, what might be going through his head, he’s obviously come here thinking ‘defensively we need to be much stronger than maybe we have been at top away games in the top six’.
“Keep it strong and maybe later on they can open up a little bit.”
Fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal's best players were all on the bench against Tottenham.
“Arguably, if you were going to pick, one, two, three, four, five, six players in the starting XI, you wouldn’t be able to pick six better than the bench I don’t think today," Ferdinand said.
“The better players are on the bench for me.”
The game ended 1-1 at Wembley, with Harry Kane's penalty cancelling out Aaron Ramsey's opener.