Mikel Arteta explains SHOCK decision to drop Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard ahead of Villa
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Mikel Arteta explains the IMPRESSIVE decision to drop Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard before the mandatory match against Aston Villa, claiming that Arsenal needed “some changes and energy on the front line”
- Mikel Arteta has eliminated Gabriel Martinelli from his starting eleven vs Aston Villa
- Leandro Trossard will replace him, while Thomas Partey is not there either
- Arteta explained that the decision was to bring “energy to the front line as well.”
Mikel Arteta has explained his surprise decision to remove Gabriel Martinelli from his starting eleven to play Saturday’s lunchtime game against Aston Villa, with Leandro Trossard taking his place.
Martinelli has played in all of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season, proving an integral cog in their midfield, returning seven league goals and two assists this season.
He will be replaced by January signing Trossard, who has impressed his new manager since joining from Brighton, notably scoring his first goal for the club against Brentford two weeks ago.
Despite making a brief cameo appearance during Gunner’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City in midweek, the Arsenal manager has made several changes to his squad for today’s match, which explains why he brought in Trossard. .
“Well, it’s to give Leandro the chance he deserves in the starting eleven,” he said. He has been impacting the team every time he has been on the field and we also needed some changes and energy on the front line.
Thomas Partey is also absent after he was ruled out just before Arsenal’s clash with City with a muscle injury, while the Spanish manager has also altered his defense, with Ben White returning to the fold after also missing through injury.
But there is good news for Arsenal fans as Emile Smith-Rowe returns to the bench after a lengthy layoff due to a thigh injury.
The London club are currently level on points with title rivals City, but today is a must-win game if they are to keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side.
Despite conceding three midweek goals to Man City, with Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland and Kevin DeBruyne all scoring, Arteta claimed he still had a lot of belief in his players.
Explaining his rationale, the 40-year-old said: “Because I saw how they play, how they competed against the best team in the world.” The actions and what they produced in the game. We give away the game. When you do that against City, that’s a big thing and I have a lot of confidence in them.”
More to follow…
