0/5 Duels, 0 Dribbles, 11x Possession Lost – Should Arteta Drop Arsenal star After Another Poor Display?
The Belgian’s international struggles continue – is it time to hand Gabriel Martinelli back his starting spot?
Arsenal return to Premier League action next weekend against Fulham at Craven Cottage, and one big question hangs over Mikel Arteta’s selection — what to do about Leandro Trossard.
The Belgian forward has looked far from his brilliant best lately, both for club and country, and his latest performance for Belgium has only added fuel to the debate.
Trossard’s Tough Night on International Duty
Belgium were held to a frustrating 0–0 draw against North Macedonia in their World Cup qualifier — and it was another difficult night for Arsenal’s versatile attacker.
Trossard started up front but looked completely off the pace. He managed 34 touches, attempted four shots (none on target), and lost the ball 11 times.
Even more worrying were the duels — 0 out of 5 won — and the fact he completed no successful dribbles or accurate crosses.
For a player capable of moments of pure brilliance, this was another display that lacked conviction and sharpness.
From Impact Sub to Inconsistent Starter
Trossard has built a reputation as one of Arsenal’s most effective impact players — someone who can change games off the bench.
But when given the chance to start, he’s struggled to hit those same levels.
He hasn’t registered a goal or assist in his last three Arsenal appearances, and with Martin Zubimendi set to return to the midfield, Arteta may need to make another attacking adjustment too.
Martinelli Deserves to Start vs Fulham
If there was ever a time to bring Gabriel Martinelli back into the XI, it’s now.
The Brazilian has been electric off the bench — scoring against Olympiacos, assisting against Athletic, and netting a dramatic equaliser vs Manchester City.
Despite that form, he was benched against West Ham before the break — a call that raised plenty of eyebrows among Arsenal fans.
Martinelli’s directness, pace, and confidence in front of goal could give Arsenal exactly the spark they’ve lacked on the left in recent weeks.
For Arteta, it seems a no-brainer: Martinelli in, Trossard out.
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