Gabby Agbonlahor says Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares ‘won’t play again’ as Mikel Arteta left with major problem
Posted by  badge Boss on Apr 06, 2022 - 08:59PM
Nuno Tavares lasted just 45 minutes against Crystal Palace (Picture: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t think will play for again this season following his display against .

The Portuguese youngster managed just 45 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Palace on Monday night before being taken off at half-time by Mikel Arteta.

The same happened when he played against Nottingham Forest in the in January – lasting just 34 minutes that time.

But following a tricky opening half against Jordan Ayew on Monday night, former Premier League striker Agbonlahor thinks he’s blown his chance of getting more minutes under his belt.

‘Tavares, I don’t think he’ll play again,’ Agbonlahor told . ‘He’s been dragged twice at half-time in the last couple of months. He didn’t look very good at all against Palace.

‘But Xhaka can’t play left-back. He’ll be targeted by teams for his lack of pace.

Nuno Tavares struggled to handle Jordan Ayew (Picture: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

‘There are some problems in there for Arsenal. Thomas Partey went down with what looked like a bad one. If you’re going down with muscle injuries at this stage of the season you might not play again this season.

‘With six or seven weeks left of the season, some of these injuries are going to see you out for the rest of the season.

‘It’s a bit of a headache for Arsenal. This is where they need to show what they are made of. It’s going to be a very fascinating race to see who gets into the top-four.’

Arteta will have to look at his options for left-back for the remainder of the season with Kieran Tierney ruled out for the campaign after requiring knee surgery.

Tavares could be handed a chance to make up for his errors when they next face Brighton on Saturday with Arteta explaining his decision to substitute him for Gabriel Martinelli as tactical.

‘Today it was just a tactical reason,’ he said.

‘How I want to do it with what Palace was doing and how we could attack and control the game much better in that position.

‘We put on another attacking midfielder with Emile 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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