Gary Neville was left "stunned" after watching Mikel Arteta's tactical reshuffle following Ben White's first-half injury in Arsenal's crucial Premier League clash against West Ham. The England right-back went down after a collision with Crysencio Summerville, forcing an early substitution that sparked debate among pundits.

With Arsenal dominating the early exchanges at the London Stadium, Arteta opted to bring on midfielder Martin Zubimendi instead of natural defensive replacements like Cristhian Mosquera or Pierro Hincapie. This meant Declan Rice—who had been orchestrating play from midfield alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly—was shifted to right-back.

Rice has filled that role before, notably in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Brighton earlier this season when injuries left the squad thin. But for Neville, the move raised eyebrows. "Taking him out of the middle of the pitch is a big call," the former Manchester United defender said on Sky Sports. "I'm stunned."

The timing couldn't have been worse. Arsenal had fired off 10 shots in the opening 22 minutes, looking poised to break through. But after White's departure and the midfield reshuffle, West Ham grew into the game, finishing the half as the stronger side.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright noted the Gunners lost their "momentum" after the change, while Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp pointed to a specific issue: "Arsenal lost momentum when Rice went to right back. They lost a physical presence in the middle of the pitch with Zubimendi coming on."

For Arsenal fans, the injury adds another layer of concern ahead of the Champions League final and this summer's World Cup. White's fitness will be closely monitored, but the immediate question remains: can Arteta's side regain control without their midfield anchor in his natural role?