Arteta’s bench delivers again as Arsenal’s substitutes decide three Premier League wins
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this season when substitute Noni Madueke, introduced at half-time, scored the decisive goal, the latest in a run of three league victories decided by players coming off the bench.
Arsenal's recent pattern includes match-winning substitute contributions in victories over Sunderland (2-0) and Leeds (2-1), with Bruno Guimarães supplying the decisive interventions in those games and Madueke repeating the role against Forest. Those three goals are the only strikes scored by Arsenal substitutes in the league this season, and all have been winners. Five teams have scored more goals from replacements, with Ipswich leading that list on five.
Against Nottingham Forest, Arteta's half-time change brought on Noni Madueke, who "shimmying inside and striking a heavily deflected right-footed shot past Matz Sels" secured three points; the goal was described as unglamorous but decisive. Bruno Guimarães was introduced at half-time to alter the game at Sunderland, and his contributions were also decisive in the 2-0 and 2-1 victories respectively. Those match examples underline the immediate impact substitutes have provided in Arsenal's recent wins.
Statistically, Arsenal have recorded three winning goals from substitutes in their opening seven league games; the record for most winning goals scored by substitutes for a team in a single Premier League season stands at six, a tally Arsenal themselves reached under Arteta in 2024-25. At the current rate of three in seven matches, the article notes the subs would be on track to score more than 16 winning goals over a season, while also stating that outcome is unlikely. All of Arsenal's substitute goals this season have been match-winners.
Since Arteta's appointment in December 2019, Arsenal have scored more winning goals from substitutes than any other side, and over the past two seasons Arsenal substitutes have registered more goals and assists combined than any other Premier League team. Thirteen different Arsenal substitutes have either scored or assisted a goal across this season and last, more than any other side, a figure the piece links to the club's squad strength and depth.
Arteta's substitution patterns are quantified: he has already made four half-time substitutions in the Premier League this season, a total exceeded only by Brentford (six) and Aston Villa (five). Last season he led the league for the number of times his first in-game substitution came at half-time (11) and averaged his first change after 50.2 minutes, the second-quickest rate behind Enzo Maresca at Chelsea (47.9 minutes). The timing of those interventions is presented alongside the match examples of Guimarães and Madueke coming on at half-time.
Among the 81 managers who have taken charge of at least 100 Premier League matches, Arsenal substitutes have scored 12.6% of the club's goals, the seventh-highest proportion in the competition's history. The article notes that, with the possible exception of Unai Emery, the managers above Arteta on that list had different resource profiles, and concludes that Arteta's record suggests an ability to change games with his bench rather than solely benefiting from depth.
The piece ends by considering the wider significance of that ability for Arsenal's season, stating: "Perhaps that could be the ace up Arsenal’s sleeve when it comes to deciding where the Premier League trophy resides in May."