Arsenal’s attacking dilemma laid bare as Arteta told to drop “brilliant” forward for Liverpool clash

April 7, 2023Last Updated: April 7, 2023

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should bench Leandro Trossard for the Gunners’ match against Liverpool this weekend.

Arsenal face the Reds at Anfield on Sunday, a ground they have not won in over 90 minutes since March 2012.

However, the Gunners lead the Premier League table by eight points heading into the weekend’s games. Meanwhile, Liverpool is in eighth place, 10 points behind the top four.

Arsenal’s ascension to title contenders this season has been aided by their goalscoring, with only Manchester City (71) scoring more than the Gunners’ 70 goals this season.

Those strikes have also been spread out, with Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard all reaching the 10-goal mark.

According to a respected journalist, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should bench Leandro Trossard for the Gunners’ match against Liverpool this weekend.

Arsenal face the Reds at Anfield on Sunday, a ground they have not won in over 90 minutes since March 2012.

However, the Gunners lead the Premier League table by eight points heading into the weekend’s games. Meanwhile, Liverpool is in eighth place, 10 points behind the top four.

Arsenal’s ascension to title contenders this season has been aided by their goalscoring, with only Manchester City (71) scoring more than the Gunners’ 70 goals this season.

Those strikes have also been spread out, with Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard all reaching the 10-goal mark.

Trossard, meanwhile, has eight goals for the season, but only one of them has come since his January arrival at the Emirates Stadium from Brighton.

He has, however, played an important role in the team, providing a hat-trick of assists in the Gunners’ 4-0 win over Fulham last month.

However, one journalist believes that, despite being ‘brilliant’ for Arteta’s team, the Belgian should not start against Liverpool.

Trossard Arsenal verdict from a journalist

Sam Dean, a journalist for The Telegraph, wrote: “[Trossard] has been arguably the best signing of the January transfer window, thanks to his close control in tight spaces, awareness in attack, and execution in the final third. The initial transfer fee of £21 million is already considered a steal.

“Despite this, Trossard will almost certainly start on the bench this weekend when Arsenal hosts Liverpool at Anfield in one of the most important games of the season.

“Is that a harsh assessment? It is not a criticism of Trossard’s performances, but rather a reflection of Arsenal’s evolution as a club and their current situation under Arteta.

“To put it simply, four into three does not add up. Arsenal’s frontline features three players and four players with strong claims to fill them: Trossard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus.

“Assuming all four arrive in Liverpool at full fitness, one must therefore drop to the bench.”