If I start Him today then I have failed my duty as a coach,the time I gave him to prove Himself is over and there’s no time for experiment anymore”, Mikel Arteta reveals decision to bench crucial Arsenal signing TODAY against Ath bibao for failing to impress Him in previous preseason games

In a surprising turn of events ahead of Arsenal’s crucial pre-season clash against Athletic Bilbao, Mikel Arteta has made a strong statement regarding one of his high-profile signings.

Speaking at today’s press conference, the Arsenal boss didn’t mince his words:

> “If I start him today then I have failed my duty as a coach. The time I gave him to prove himself is over and there’s no time for experiments anymore.”

Arteta’s blunt admission confirms that the player — whose name has been withheld from the official lineup reveal — will not be starting the match. This decision comes after several underwhelming performances during Arsenal’s pre-season tour, where the signing struggled to make a tangible impact.

Fans had high hopes for the player after his arrival earlier this summer, with expectations that he would become a key figure in the squad. However, Arteta’s comments suggest that patience is wearing thin, and competition for places in the starting XI remains fierce.

The Athletic Bilbao match, being Arsenal’s final warm-up before the Premier League opener, was seen as a golden opportunity for fringe and new players to cement their place in the team. Unfortunately for this particular signing, it seems that opportunity has slipped away.

With the season about to kick off, the big question now is whether this benching is a short-term wake-up call or the beginning of a deeper struggle for the player’s role under Arteta. One thing is certain — the Arsenal manager has sent a loud and clear message: performance, not reputation, will decide who makes the cut.