Darren Bent has hit out at ’ display against that saw him taken off at half-time.
’s bid for a top-four finish suffered a huge blow on Monday night as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park as Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha all found the net.
One player in particular had an evening to forget though with left-back Tavares enduring a torrid 45 minutes up against Ayew in the first half.
Arteta opted to take him off for a more attacking option at half-time but former Premier League striker Bent has not been impressed from what he’s seen since he signed from Benfica last summer.
‘It just felt like I was in a time machine and just watching Arsenal from the start of the season,’ Bent told talkSPORT.
‘I’ve seen Tavares play twice, I saw him get ruined at Nottingham Forest and then again last night.
‘And in the commentary Jamie Carragher called it, he said he has to come off at half-time and he did.
‘He got absolutely ruined, he was out of position and not good enough on the ball.
‘I know his reputation and people say “he’s going to be a good player” but the drop-off when Kieran Tierney is not playing…
‘Arsenal also miss Tomiyasu.’
Despite criticism from Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher at half-time, Mikel Arteta insisted his decision to hook the Portuguese youngster for Gabriel Martinelli was a tactical one.
‘Today was just a tactical reason for how I wanted to do it with what Palace was doing and how we could attack and control the game much better in that position,’ explained the Gunners boss.
‘We wanted to put another attacking midfielder with Emile [Smith Rowe] in that space and that was the only reason. I’m sorry that it was Nuno again, but we had to do it.’
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