Leandro Trossard came on for Gabriel Martinelli in the 65th minute against Aston Villa. Two minutes later, with his first touch, the Belgian striker had a powerful left shot to open the scoring for the away team. Trossard's lackluster celebration was a relief to Aston Villa fans. On the other hand, it brought the "Gunners" fans at Villa Park extremely much joy.
That goal was Trossard's 14th Premier League goal for Arsenal. Of which, he scored 6 times when coming on as a substitute. The 29-year-old star has Arsenal's highest ever substitution scoring rate (43%).
The goal for Trossard was not random. When he was just put on the field, this "lazy to sleep" striker immediately found a favorable position in the opponent's penalty area. He kept moving short distances to deceive Villa's defense.
"Everyone wants to start, everyone will have their own feelings about this. I always want to make a big impact on the pitch whether I am a starts or a substitute. The most important thing is that I have completed my mission" - Trossard shared after the match.
Trossard's ability to score or create breakthroughs in time coincides with Martinelli's decline in form. Last season, Martinelli played harmlessly for quite a long time and Arteta was about to start Trossard. In 7 starts last season, the Belgian striker scored 4 goals. Specifically, 3 of those goals were scoring opening situations that helped Arsenal untie the knot of the match, which is very important.
In the 2022-2023 season, Martinelli scored 15 goals in the Premier League. This number dropped to only 6 in the last campaign. From an irreplaceable figure on the left wing, Martinelli is gradually losing his influence. This is the season Arsenal are determined to compete for the championship, so Arteta will not be an exception in any case.
Against Aston Villa, Martinelli's final breakthrough shots were harmless. He was also shy in his collaborations with Bukayo Saka. In the second half, there were even situations where the Brazilian star showed signs of "taking advantage" and did not dare to shoot. He hesitated and lost the ball, which was very unfortunate.
As for Trossard, he not only scored the opening goal, he also had a great contribution to Thomas Partey's 2-0 victory. It was Trossard's elite run that helped Arsenal maintain their attack momentum and avoid being offside. Saka then returned the ball to Partey with a tricky shot into the corner near the goal of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
"That is the motivation that each individual needs to develop. I know that competition in the team will motivate everyone to play better. I am happy that I have made positive contributions to the club. Every position should have competition, that is what Arsenal really need" - Trossard shared.
In 18 months playing for Arsenal, Trossard has had 19 goals and 12 assists, with his form remaining stable. If Martinelli is temporarily declining in form, Arteta should consider starting Trossard as soon as possible.
