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Mikel Arteta believes that substitute players in the team might prove even more vital than starters in the current campaign—a philosophy he reveals borrowing from the sport of rugby.

The Brazilian winger and Leandro Trossard both found the net—and set up one another—after entering as second-half substitutes to secure a 2-0 victory for the London club against the Spanish side in the first Champions League fixture.

Challenging Period and Managerial Trust

The 24-year-old has faced a difficult period lately, struggling for consistency and being relegated to the bench, with new signing the English winger preferred on the left flank.

The experienced attacker, on the other hand, has made only a handful of cameos this season after featuring 56 times during the previous term.

The Gunners' boss emphasized that starting on the bench does not diminish a individual's value, drawing parallels with rugby's terminology of "finishers".

"They are just as important, or even more important," he stated. "The finishers are going to be more important in the coming months on occasion than those who begin the game."

Squad Depth and Missing Stars

The North London side are currently missing star performers such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz due to injuries, while William Saliba was deemed ready enough for a place on bench.

As a result, the manager to turn to new signings sooner than expected, with several of them starting against Spanish outfit.

He confessed that omitting individuals weighs on him, but praised the contributions of the duo after initially benching them.

"Extremely satisfied since it is very difficult on a personal level to make exclusions," Arteta said. "Every time you announce the line-up, you let down a number of players."

Team Spirit and Confidence Boost

The Brazilian, who has been a essential component under Arteta, faced a loss of sharpness that sparked fan debate about his place in the side.

The winger was conscious about external opinions and it affected his self-belief, despite scoring 10 goals across all competitions—including a memorable goal in the European last eight clash against Real Madrid.

Arteta has always shown faith him in important matches and felt thrilled to see the player make the difference in the win.

"It's well merited," remarked. "I adore Gabi. The way he applies himself, dedication, optimism—what he gives for the squad."

Arsenal players rushed to celebrate with him after his goal, with Riccardo Calafiori pointing at the player's name in front of the away fans.

"That's the spirit," Arteta continued. "It's reasons like this I love working with them every day. The way they support one another is authentic."

"They really want the success for their peers and value someone who puts in the effort every single day like Gabi does."

"I had no doubt that he was going to react positively. You challenge Gabi, he elevates to the task. Such instances that will hopefully restore his self-assurance—as he is an outstanding talent."