accused Mikel Arteta of playing into ’s hands with his team selection on Saturday.
Without the injured and William Saliba, Arteta opted to shuffle his backline in order to trigger a return to winning ways following last week’s defeat against Brighton.
Arteta opted to field at right-back, with Ben White partnering Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Despite Kieran Tierney being fit enough to make the bench, Jakub Kiwior started at left-back for the first time in his short Arsenal career and, unsurprisingly, the visitors looked a long way from their incisive and cohesive best.
A disjointed display was characterised by the defending for the opening goal which saw Forest hit the Gunners on the break after Martin Odegaard needlessly conceded possession.
Morgan Gibbs-White sprinted unchallenged towards the penalty area but looked to have overhit his pass, only for the ball to bounce fortuitously into the net after Gabriel’s slide tackled ricocheted off the boot of Taiwo Awoniyi.
‘The tackle was unlucky but both the full-backs are out of the game,’ said a puzzled Adams told Sky Sports.
‘He’s gone with Partey and Kiwior and none of them (are there) it’s a two on two, actually it was a three on two situation and they’re waiting for Arsenal.
‘They’re doing it very well Forest. They counter-attack and you can’t be sloppy that ball by Odegaard was sloppy and they’re waiting to pounce on that kind of thing.
‘I’ve been really disappointed. Football’s about relationships. But Ben white has been brilliant on the right-hand side with Saka and all of a sudden he’s gone to put Partey in there and we’ve got Tierney on the bench.
‘What is Arteta trying for me? That selection says to me do we want Partey to play there next season, Ben to play central defender? Kiwior, is he a left-back?
‘I don’t get it to be honest and they’ve exposed us again and again and again. We played into their hands. You’ve given them a leg up.’
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