Mikel Arteta let down by group of Arsenal stars after giving them special nickname

Just like their Premier League title rivals, Arsenal need a deep squad if they are to challenge for the top honours this season.

With that in mind, manager Mikel Arteta has spent his five years at the helm putting together a formidable starting line-up and bench full of top talent. But with competition for minutes so high in north London, keeping every player happy is no easy feat.

Last year, Arteta explained how referring to his substitutes as ‘impactors’ has helped to keep morale high among those who are trying to fight their way in from the sidelines. “It’s something that we wanted to change,” he said. “I think it was the best way to express how we feel about them and how they have to feel towards the team, especially on matchday.”

The nickname Arteta has given to his subs makes one thing clear: he expects them to make an impact if they are called upon. Last season they lived up to their billing, scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists between them – the fourth-highest total in the Premier League.

This campaign, however, the productivity of Arsenal’s substitutes has nosedived dramatically. Before the most recent international break, players coming off the Gunners bench had contributed to only two league goals.

That has picked up marginally in recent weeks, but their current tally of five goal contributions (four goals, one assist) puts them mid-table by that metric. In other words, Arteta’s impactors are making only a mediocre impact.

A substitute success story nearly unfolded on Sunday, with Gabriel Martinelli coming off the bench and crossing in for Bukayo Saka to turn in what looked like being a late winner over Fulham at Craven Cottage. But a VAR review showed the Brazilian to be marginally offside, leaving Arteta ‘gutted’ at having to share the spoils.

Martinelli aside, a crisis of confidence has taken hold among the subs at Arteta’s disposal against the Cottagers. Gabriel Jesus – signed for £45million two-and-a-half years ago – has not scored in the league since January.

Raheem Sterling has managed just 146 league minutes since signing on loan from Chelsea, and he wasn’t even used against Fulham. Mikel Merino offers minimal threat going forward, while fresh-faced teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are still years from reaching maturity.

With Liverpool pulling away at the top of the table, time is of the essence for Arteta to make sure his ‘impactors’ are living up to their name.