Arteta must bench Trossard to unlock Arsenal’s 23-Year-Old ‘sensational talent’

With just eight Premier League games left in the season and Liverpool holding a slim two-point lead, Arsenal is gearing up for crucial matches.

After securing a hard-fought point against Manchester City and a convincing win against Luton Town, Mikel Arteta faces a tough decision ahead of the away game against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Arteta must consider moving Leandro Trossard to the bench, whose recent performance was deemed underwhelming by pundits and analysts.

Simon Collings from the Standard rated Trossard’s performance a 6/10, highlighting his inefficiency despite moments of skill on the pitch.

Trossard’s statistics from the Luton Town game show a mixed bag – he registered an expected assists figure of 0.27 and succeeded in three of his four dribbles.

However, he maintained a passing accuracy of just 80%, lost four of his eight duels, and lost possession 13 times.

Martinelli’s Impact

Gabriel Martinelli emerges as a strong candidate to replace Trossard.

His track record on the left wing includes eight goals and five assists in 31 appearances, showcasing a higher goal involvement rate than Trossard’s six goals and one assist in 22 outings.

Moreover, Martinelli’s speed and attacking prowess make him a formidable threat against Brighton‘s defensive setup.

U23 scout Antonio Mango praised Martinelli as a “sensational talent,” emphasizing his speed and ability to exploit spaces behind opposing defenders.

With Brighton’s right-backs often venturing forward, Martinelli’s pace could be a decisive factor in creating scoring opportunities for Arsenal.

Martinelli’s speed could tip the scales in their favor

Analyzing the heatmaps of Brighton’s primary right-backs, Tariq Lamptey and Joël Veltman, reveals a tendency for them to advance forward frequently, despite Roberto De Zerbi’s preference for building from the back.

This scenario creates opportunities for a speedy left-winger to exploit the space behind the defenders, either by delivering a cross into the box or taking a shot themselves.

Hence, it would be logical to start the player identified by Havertz as the fastest in the squad, prioritizing speed over the technical but slower attributes of Trossard.

While Arsenal remains the favourite, Arteta’s decision to start Martinelli could further tilt the scales in their favour.

With the race for the top spot intensifying, every tactical move becomes crucial in Arsenal’s pursuit of Premier League glory.