Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained why he has been substituting midfielder Martin Odegaard in recent weeks.
Odegaard registered 15 goals and eight assists across 37 games as the Gunners came close to winning the Premier League title last term.
But the Norway captain has faced criticism this campaign, with his performances taking a clear dip.
Arteta replaced Odegaard in the 73rd minute as Arsenal beat Sevilla 2-1 in the Champions League.
In the previous game against Chelsea, Odegaard was taken off in the 78th minute.
Arteta was asked about subbing the 24-year-old on Friday ahead of this weekend’s home match against Sheffield United.
He replied: “It can be in relation to performance. It can [also] be in relation to tactics or how the game is shifting to a type of game that I think somebody else is going to be more suited [to].
“Sometimes it is to get more freshness in the team because we have played a lot of games, and we need a lot of energy in the last few minutes.”
