Mikel Arteta make six changes as Arsenal were beaten by West Ham in the Carabao Cup (Reuters)
David Moyes has defended Mikel Arteta over his team selection following Arsenal’s defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
West Ham ran out deserved 3-1 winners at the London Stadium as Ben White’s own goal plus strikes from Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen put the hosts in front before Martin Odegaard scored a late consolation for the Gunners.
Arteta made six changes from the Arsenal side that sealed a 5-0 victory against Sheffield United last Saturday with Declan Rice, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka among those who started on the bench against West Ham.
The Arsenal manager has come under fire from Arsenal supporters for his team selection but Moyes insists his opposite number was right to make changes for their Carabao Cup tie.
When asked about Arteta’s decision to rotate his Arsenal side for the game, Moyes replied: ‘I’ve been in football that long, I’m probably one of the most experienced managers, and I think the managers continue to get asked the question about the changes in the teams.
West Ham will now play Liverpool in the Carabao Cup quarter final (Getty)
‘It really surprises me that you haven’t, the journalists who watch all the football wouldn’t say, ‘well, you’ve got 18 or 19 players in your squad who are probably good enough to play, you have a lot of football to play’.
‘They’ve got two games that those sort of questions you wouldn’t say you would take it near enough for granted that lots of the managers would change their team.
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‘I find it quite surprising really, not that you would ask, but I’m sure you’ve all considered Arsenal have got Newcastle on Saturday then they’ve got Sevilla, so they’ve got big games coming up.
‘That’s the way you see it but maybe there’s bigger things they see than maybe tonight’s game.’
West Ham will now play Liverpool at Anfield in the Carabao Cup quarter final in December.
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Arteta was criticised by Arsenal fans for benching Declan Rice, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka.