Former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop believes Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta should start Leandro Trossard ahead of struggling Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian had an excellent start to the season and has started every Premier League game for Mikel Arteta’s side this season. He has played a crucial role in the north Londoners establishing themselves as genuine title contenders.
Martinelli has scored seven goals so far this season but has failed to find the back of the net in the last seven games, and his performances have witnessed a dip in quality in recent weeks.
Trossard joined the Gunners in January and although the attacker is yet to start a league game for the club, he has been impressive while coming off the bench. He scored his first goal in a red shirt against Brentford on Saturday after replacing Martinelli.
Hislop believes Arteta should give the Belgian a chance from the start and leave Martinelli on the bench. While speaking to ESPN(via Evening Standard), he said:
“When he has come on, Leandro Trossard has had an impact. So if you’re Arteta, I think the time is right to think: ‘Well, do I now play Trossard from the very start?”
“Now, Martinelli is quick, and defenses coming up against that kind of pace, you have to adjust just for that pure speed that Martinelli brings. But he hasn’t had much of an impact. He’s not been playing well and is struggling a bit.”
“So the easy change I think given the form of Trossard, given the fact that he’s finally got on the scoresheet for Arsenal, is that you have to play him from the very start.”
Arsenal Fever View:
While Martinelli did have a fantastic start to the season, his recent performances have been way below par. Trossard, with his vast experience, would be a better alternative to start the game. It seems sensible to bring on the Brazilian as a substitute to inject some pace in the dying stages of the game.
The Gunners have picked up just a point from their last two games. The game against Pep Guardiola’s side is a title-deciding clash, and the Gunners cannot afford any slip-ups. If Arteta’s men can secure all three points, then the title is theirs to lose.
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