{"id":5951,"date":"2026-04-20T09:40:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=5951"},"modified":"2026-04-20T09:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:40:25","slug":"wayne-rooney-questions-strange-mikel-arteta-decision-to-drop-arsenal-star-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=5951","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Rooney questions &#8216;strange&#8217; Mikel Arteta decision to drop Arsenal star | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac.png?w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28044437\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Wayne Rooney believes Mikel Arteta\u2019s selection gamble backfired (Picture: BBC Sport)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wayne Rooney fears Mikel Arteta\u2019s \u2018strange\u2019 decision to bench Viktor Gyokeres could have a damaging impact on the Arsenal striker\u2019s confidence. <\/p>\n<p>The Gunners knew a win at the Etihad would all-but secure their first Premier League title since 2004, but despite a much improved performance Arteta\u2019s side slipped to a damaging 2-1 defeat.<\/p>\n<p>Manchester City will go top of the table on goal difference with a win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday with five games remaining. <\/p>\n<p>Should both teams claim maximum points then the destination of the title will boil down to a straight gunfight which City would feel confident of prevailing in given their array of attacking options. <\/p>\n<p>Gyokeres, Arsenal\u2019s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, was dropped for Sunday\u2019s summit meeting with Arteta opting to start with Kai Havertz instead.<\/p>\n<p>The Germany international scored his side\u2019s equaslier, charging down Gianluigi Donnarumma\u2019s clearance, but missed two huge chances either side of Erling Haaland\u2019s 65th minute winner. <\/p>\n<p>Gyokeres was introduced to the fray with 14 minutes, including injury time, remaining but failed to adjust to the pace of the game and didn\u2019t register a single touch during his time on the pitch.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271559425.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28044748\" alt=\"FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-ARSENAL\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Viktor Gyokeres was dropped from Arsenal\u2019s starting line-up vs Man City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I think these decisions if he comes on and scores the winner or scores the equalising goal obviously it\u2019s the right decision,\u2019 Rooney told the BBC when asked about Arteta omitting his \u00a360m summer signing from such a significant game. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018I thought with him not starting, Arsenal would\u2019ve tried to sit in there. It was a strange one him not starting because you bring a No.9 in which they\u2019ve been looking for all season, and I actually think he\u2019s done OK, to not start him in such a big game I think that might effect him.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Despite the picture looking bleak following a run of four successive domestic defeattl, Rooney remains adamant there is still plenty of room for optimism from an Arsenal perspective. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271553584.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28044782\" alt=\"TOPSHOT-FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-ARSENAL\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Kai Havertz missed two huge chances against Man City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He said: \u2018This title race is not over yet, I still feel like there are some more twists and turns to come. It is is obviously going to be tight but City have got one more game to try to win, so I still have Arsenal down as slight favourites.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ve been in this situation myself, where you need to win all your games for the title. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018You look at your games and you think well we should win this one, or that one, but it never pans out that way.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018From now until the end of the season it is just going to be down to which team keeps their composure the best \u2013 that\u2019s who will win it.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2272087851.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28039728\" alt=\"Manchester City v Arsenal - Premier League\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Arsenal have let a huge lead slip in the title race (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"metro-poll\" id=\"1776674116700-28044435\" data-option1=\"Man City\" data-option2=\"Arsenal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/api.metro.co.uk\/polls\/v2\/\" data-track-module=\"poll\">\n<h3 class=\"metro-poll__title\">Who will win the Premier League title?<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"metro-poll__list\">\n<li data-option=\"option1\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<\/li>\n<li data-option=\"option2\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>Arteta certainly agreed with that sentiment and was adamant he saw enough from his team to suggest the race will go down to the wire. <\/p>\n<p>He said: \u2018The biggest disappointment is that we did a lot of good things during the game. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018They created some individual moments and we created the biggest chances of the game but we didn\u2019t score. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018There was an element of luck and hitting the post was unfortunate. It has to go your way and it didn\u2019t today. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018We lost an opportunity in terms of the result. They have a game in hand, we have three points. Game on because it is a new Premier League.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Freddie Ljungberg addresses Arsenal \u2018bottlers\u2019 label after \u2018tough\u2019 Man City loss<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Gary Neville names one crucial mistake Arsenal made in Manchester City defeat<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Teddy Sheringham insists Marcus Rashford \u2018did not deserve\u2019 move from Man Utd to Barcelona<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:90px; background:#4ecdc4; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114300\" data-width=\"728\" data-height=\"90\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114300});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u4e3b\u680f\uff1a\u591a\u5e7f\u544a\u5806\u53e0 -->\r\n  <div style=\"display:grid; gap:2px;\">\r\n    <div style=\"height:60px; background:#45b7d1; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114308\" data-width=\"468\" data-height=\"60\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114308});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:250px; background:#ffe066; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114299\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"250\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114299});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:250px; background:#ff9ecd; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114305\" data-width=\"250\" data-height=\"250\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114305});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:139px; background:#c792ea; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114302\" data-width=\"133\" data-height=\"139\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114302});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:125px; background:#91e7ac; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Wayne Rooney questions &#8216;strange&#8217; Mikel Arteta decision to drop Arsenal star | Football<br \/>\n<br \/>#Wayne #Rooney #questions #strange #Mikel #Arteta #decision #drop #Arsenal #star #Football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wayne Rooney believes Mikel Arteta\u2019s selection gamble backfired (Picture: BBC Sport) Wayne Rooney fears Mikel&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[617,1162,314,1615,317,1161,2563,1193,654,6785,1192],"class_list":["post-5951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-arsenal","tag-arteta","tag-decision","tag-drop","tag-football","tag-mikel","tag-questions","tag-rooney","tag-star","tag-strange","tag-wayne"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572.png",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-300x158.png",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-768x403.png",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-1024x538.png",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572.png",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572.png",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-1115x630.png",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-800x500.png",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-1024x538.png",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-540x340.png",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-56ac_1776674572-400x250.png",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5951\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}