Mikel Arteta makes Arsenal Premier League title race admission as Bukayo Saka decision made

has hinted that he's firmly focusing on Arsenal's quarter-final first leg tie against Real Madrid on Tuesday night after .

The Gunners headed to Goodison Park looking to pick up three successive victories to help them close the gap on table-topping Liverpool to nine points. However, Arteta has made five changes to his XI from the team that started the 2-1 win over Fulham in midweek.

There was talk that, after playing 23 minutes on his return from a hamstring injury, Saka could be handed a start, but he has - once again - had to settle for a place on their substitutes bench. Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes have dropped out.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Jakub Kiwior, Ben White, Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling have all come in to the starting XI, and Arteta hinted in his pre-match interview that he, ultimately, has one eye on Real Madrid.

Asked whether the Real Madrid game had an impact on team selection for Everton, Arteta told TNT Sports: "That and many other niggles we had with players that have played a lot of minutes.

"After the Fulham game we had issues. It's not just about the way we started - it's how we can finish as well - the way we can change the game in the context and that is the decision I have made."

Saka and Odegaard have been two of Arsenal's most important players over these last couple of years. Both have missed chunks of the season, owing to respective injuries, and the Gunners faithful finally got to see them playing together for the final 23 minutes against Fulham on Tuesday night.

While Saka and Odegaard could come on at Everton, it's reasonable to suggest that Arteta is ensuring that his star duo are as fresh as possible for taking on Real Madrid in the Champions League. With the Gunners unlikely to catch Liverpool in the Premier League title race, Europe's elite competition is looking Arsenal's best bet to win a trophy.

Martinelli, meanwhile, was impressive against Fulham and could get the nod on their left-hand side against Real Madrid. He has been, like Odegaard and Saka, named on the subs bench to face Everton.

Apart from William Saliba and Declan Rice, it appears that Arteta has left his main difference-makers on the subs bench as he rotates his pack ahead of the Real Madrid first leg on Tuesday night.

After hosting Los Blancos at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners face Brentford next Saturday before making the trip to Santiago Bernabau for the second leg on Wednesday, April 16.