Mikel Arteta now has one selection dilemma heading into Arsenal’s match against Brighton. Gabriel Martinelli, or Leandro Trossard? Who does he start with? I realise it’s just Match Day 2, but Martinelli hasn’t been able to replicate his attacking efficiency from the 2022–23 season, as he did in several games last season.
Last week, Troy Deeney advised him to keep things simple, but can we afford to be patient and wait for him to rediscover his mojo? While battling for a starting berth with Trossard, Martinelli may end up seeming favoured, always starting, given the Belgian international’s ability to capitalise on his opportunities.
Arsenal relies on Trossard to make the difference, as we saw against Villa and even last season. When Arsenal find themselves in a bind, Leandro Trossard unexpectedly makes an appearance and scores to save the day.
Two minutes after his substitution on Saturday night, the ex-Brighton star showed off his excellent finishing ability by scoring with his first touch, pouncing on a loose ball inside the box, and shooting to the bottom right corner past Emi Martinez to break the deadlock.
That goal completely transformed the game, and Arsenal added the second a few minutes later to demonstrate how valuable Trossard is.
Arteta said about Trossard starting on the bench yesterday: “We have two great left-wingers and on top of that Reiss can play in that position. It’s always a challenge but you know that you’re going to get the quality for certain specific games and what we expected today I decided to play Gabyy (Martinelli) and he had a good performance, and when I thought we had to change the game because he was taking a different route he (Trossard) came on and made a difference”.
But has Trossard earned his spot in Arteta’s starting lineup after his impressive cameo against Villa? Well, I would have responded yes, but I’ve seen numerous games where Trossard started and had a terrible game on our left side. Trossard, in my opinion, performs best as a substitute when opponents are exhausted. So he was just doing what he does best, which Arteta is aware of, versus Villa.
Martinelli is a terrific player, and his overall play is excellent; he simply lacks the confidence to influence the final third as much as he should. It should not be surprising to see him retained in his starting lineup to help him gain confidence.
Some argue that the Brazilian’s attacking struggles are because he lacks perfect support due to the absence of a true LCM and frequent changes at left-back; however, Arteta’s integration of Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori in his line-up will be the true test of his abilities.
That being said, I believe Leandro Trossard is more of a super-sub than a starter, and starting him over Martinelli may be a gamble. How confident are you that you’ll introduce Martinelli, and he’ll offer you what the Belgian international does off the bench? Give Martinelli a chance, allow the LHS to improve with the recruits as anticipated, and then assess his performance.
Jack Anderson
Martinelli has to work on the final phase. Put the ball in the back of the net or provide the assist for someone to put it in. What I see is that martinelli runs the defender ragged (cash done his hamstring in the first half chasing him) and then Trossard comes on to give the defender a different type of headache but now the defenders tired:)
Agree with the article and Pco’s opinion of the situation.
Most of our attacking play comes down the right but that seems to suit Trossard as he is the perfect player to make runs into the box when crosses come in from the other side. Martinelli has different strengths and we are not playing to them. He is probably the best player we have for playing on the counter attack, which we will need to do away at Man City.
In tge article it is stated that Trossard has had poor games as a starter. Well for one, have they been poorer than Martinelli? I would say 100% NO. For two, where are the stats to prove it? For three, i suggest you check the goals per minute for Trossard against any other player in the team. And I think you will find, like a few of people, you are not talking with any sort of logic at all. It seems and our manager is included that for some, they are blind to what he achieves for us.
And just to back up what I am saying.
Haven’t scores a goal every 200 minutes of playing time. Saka, 180 minutes. Martinelli 333 minutes. Trossard scores a goal every 121 minutes of playing time. From 2023/24 season. So I don’t agree with the article.
Ha ha not Haven’t but Haverz.
Trossard wasn’t too happy about being a sub yesterday and didn’t enter into the usual goal celebrations with the other players immediately. Arteta remarked about this afterwards.
The stats you quote certainly suggest he should be given a chance at starting to see if he can maintain his already good goal/minutes ratio.
Trossard deserves to start.
it is vital Arsenal get our left hand side firing again, and Arteta giving Martinelli two starts to get us/him in to that groove makes sense
unfortunately Martinelli was again underwhelming, predictably cutting back in on to his right foot then doing precious little with it
for me Trossard starts, particularly against his old club, he has earned it while Martinelli has not taken his chance
Trossard is also developing nice intuition with Havertz, end of last season we saw Havertz assist a couple for him, but also in pre-season when Havertz playing lefthand midfield
everything points to Trossard getting the nod next weekend against Brighton, can he turnover the perception he doesn’t deliver as a starter
Your last line. It is a perception and not fact.
Trossard has started on a few occasions and, I believe, has been substituted on every occasion – why would that be?
We have had Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Kiwior all playing at LB, so it has been very difficult for the left side of the team to have the same continuity and understanding that the right side has had.
Let’s see how it pans out once Timber and /or Califiori get into the groove – then we will be able to judge Martinelli and Trossard better.
Ken, he has been substituted, when he has started and scored. Why would that be? I dont get the question.
Martinelli has started and not scored and substituted regularly. Why would that be?
To answer your two questions Reggie – MA has started Trossard and subbed him in every game, because, in his opinion, he hasn’t influenced it enough.
However, when used as a substitute, Trossard has affected the outcome every single time.
My opinion is that he (MA) wants Martinelli to wear down the opponents right hand side and use Trossard to complete the job… as he has done so effectively and the villa game was just such an example.
Watch how Martinelli has two players on him nearly every time he receives the ball and still causes problems – Trossard takes over that role and is able to inject a new energy against tired opponents.
I don’t agree that he should face Brighton just because it’s his old club, but I hope MA selects him from the start and then let’s see how he performs… especially if he’s then subbed and Martinelli comes on in a role reversal situation.
Then comparisons can be made.
But ken, has sustituted him when he has influenced and scored.
Just for the record ken, Trossard started in 9 league games last season, scored in 6 and was subtituted in all. Three times, within 10 minutes of scoring. So saying he played poorly when starting is false.
Trossard started for Brighton against Liverpool and scored a hat trick against them before we bought him. He never started for us against them after we bought him, and played against them. Why would that be?
The only one who can answer that question is MA and to date, it seems, overall, he’s got it right Reggie… at least if we look at the two second positions in the PL.
That means he has got it right? Not in my book. I said the season before last, taking off an effective Trossard and replacing him with an ineffective Jesus and hardly using Trossard helped costing us the league. Trossard was scoring and Jesus didn’t.
Then we agree to disagree my friend.
We can agree to disagree but you are wrong saying he doesn’t perform when starting is wrong. See my post replying to you up above for proof.
I don’t know the truth of it, but it could very well be that trossard generally plays well from the start, but then gets subbed because his energy levels drop and he stops pressing effectively, or they believe his output in other ways has dropped – I think arteta’s team will monitor and be reactive to things like that. It could even be that arteta doesn’t think he’s fit enough and so will always sub him, rightly or wrongly. (Again, I have no idea really, just saying him being subbed doesn’t necessarily mean he’s played poorly)
But thats what has been suggested. And im saying, its fabrication.
Good thing now is there is commotion for so.e of the places …
So if eg.Martinelli doesn’t do great in 2 games and Trossard is scoring off the bench then he should get his chance…
I don’t know ghe stats but seems both Martinelli and Trossard down seem to be best when starting but better off thr bench. Perhaps thie skills are best utilised once the defenders are tired !?
Much the same at BHA, did better when he came on as a sub. Great player when at his best but hated not to be in the starting 11 which made him fall out with some players because they are thought he wasn’t giving 100%.
He scored a Hatrick against Liverpool for Brighton when he started. And he was a regular for Brighton. Not hardly used as sub.
The only one who can answer that question is MA and to date, it seems, overall, he’s got it right Reggie… at least if we look at the two second positions in the PL.
Trossard deserves to start but no coach will overlook how Martineli helps the defense in that left side. In my opinion, I’ll prefer Martineli to start when facing pacy left wingers, he will help our defenders nullify the threat, something Trossard can’t do effectively like Martineli
So Martinelli is being selected to defend? In that case let us try Kiwior on the LW. He will shut down everything and produce close to nothing like Martinelli.
QD, it seems like some fans will come up with every drummed up idea, to justify the unjustifiable. I suppose if Trossard is not appreciated for what he is doing, then tgere isn’t much more he can do. We hear complaints that our left side, isn’t doing what our right side is and then try defend Martinelli, by saying he is defending. He is not productive and the reason is, he is not producing. Trossard is and he gets ignored. I give up.
It makes zero sense when fans kept talking about who is to start and who is to be on the bench when what the manager is currently doing is yielding expected good result….. Last season it was the cry for Smith Rowe to start now that he’s gone to another club it’s Trossard to start .. can you please enjoy our football and leave selection headache for the manager to deal with.
Well said !
Remember. when we bought Trossard for just $33m, he was having problems with Brighton management.
I wonder if Brighton just wanted rid of him.
Let’s see how Trossard reacts after spending more games starting on the bench.
I just read that we are sniffing around Darwin Nunez from Liverpool.
He has recently been banned by Fifa for 5 games after his involvement in a recent contratemps in a Uruguay match.
Is that what we need up front?
One last point, I believe Viera is being shipped out!
So who will back up Odegaard?
I sincerely hope Arteta is expecting Jorghino to fill that role!!!!
I meant $22m
I just had my eyes check too!
JW, the Nunez rumour was started just to rile up Liverpool fans and to earn the fella that started it some money. It seems to have worked, seeing the amount of replies he got.