Arsenal lost 4-1 to Manchester City last week in what could have been the most important game of the 2022–23 English Premier League season, which was labelled “the Premier League final”.
Arsenal’s chances of winning the league have dwindled due to that defeat. Nonetheless, the Gunners have five games left to win the Premier League title for the first time in more than 20 years if they win their remaining fixtures and Man City drops six points.
The message is clear: Arteta and his team must return to winning form immediately. Their next game is a London derby against Chelsea. The Blues must be defeated for Arsenal to succeed.
Chelsea is struggling; they have lost all five games under Frank Lampard. But don’t underestimate them; they might appear for the local London Derby. Arsenal must outnumber them, and one way to do it is to score on any opportunity that presents itself. Arsenal’s attack must be vital in this game. With Jesus not performing well in previous weeks, Arteta should start a Martinelli-Trossard-Saka forward line.
Bukayo Saka is on course to break an Emirates record. He has made 16 home Premier League appearances this season and has directly assisted on 16 goals (9 goals, seven assists). He both scored and produced an assist for his teammates in three competitive games at the Emirates this season. The last Gunner to do so in a single season was Alexis Sanchez (4 in 2014–15).
Gabriel Martinelli would enjoy the opportunity to demonstrate to Mudryk why he would have been benched if he had joined Arsenal. The Brazilian, who is having his best season at the Emirates, will need to be on top form if Arsenal are to win. He has been an important player for Arsenal this season, scoring goals and contributing assists in equal measure; he has 15 goals and five assists in 33 games. Although this will be a completely different challenge, Chelsea has struggled for most of the season, and what a chance for the Brazilian to shine.
Trossard, on the other hand, has been revolutionary whenever he has played (he has a goal and eight assists in six starts). If he starts against Chelsea, I’m sure he’ll score or contribute an assist. His efficiency in front of the goal is exceptional.
Gabriel Jesus is a world-class player, but given his recent form, Arsenal should consider using him as a substitute until he demonstrates he deserves to start. Could a Martinelli-Trossard-Saka attack be the turning point in Arsenal’s season?
Come on you Gooners!
Darren N
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Jesus is playing well without actually scoring, can’t understand why he didn’t take the penalty when he had won it before giving the ball to Saka.
Surely Tossard has to start here , I would rest Jesus for this one and mix things a bit.
Gunsmoke, human beings are fragile creatures. Do you remember when Jesus held on to the ball and stood near the penalty spot for what seemed like ages to me. I thought HE was going to take the penalty, but eventually he threw it to Saka. It could be construed that he thought he himself should take the pen. I wonder if that put more pressure on Saka and ultimately put him off.
Oh yes EvGunner , exactly my point, that very moment may just be the point where the campaign slip through our hands
Gunsmoke, unfortunately if that’s what the penalty miss was about, then it shows mental fragility. As you know that’s the first one he’s missed since the Euros. Human fragility I’m afraid. It’s a good thing that I am not human myself, I live on another planet.
The single biggest factor why we have come to hit a brick wall is down to our mental strength, the legendary Frenchman is on record as emphasizing this during his Hay days.
Have been talking how paramount the mental strength plays in today game, playing before your competitors, while your competitor playing a few hours later.
Forget about the gaffer stubbornness and his slowness to react. It is what it is
That is if Arteta will be bold enough to do so. I have the feeling that he’s always afraid of dropping some players.
Martinelli – Trossard – Saka
OR
Martinelli – Jesus – Trossard
Not just Jesus but, Saka too. Let him start Trossard, Nketia and Nelson and introduce Martinelli, Jesus and Saka at the hour mark. We need a strong bench to win our remaining matches.
Hopefully we turn up tonight
I’d give a start to Trossard – he deserves it, but I do understand why Arteta stuck with Jesus who started quite well after returning from injury- playing fewer minutes until match fit.
Trossard,Nketiah, ESR.They are fit and raring to go.Fans tend to treat Nketiah as a second class citizen, yet he performed very well earlier in the season in the absence of Jesus, who along with Martinelli and Saka can rest on the bench.
@ Grandad
I agree with you on Trossard (left side) and Nketiah in the centre (who is a natural finisher) but not sure about ESR for this game. I may prefer to go with either Martinelli or Jesus or even Nelson on the right being a conventional right winger.
Jesus’ return somehow disturbed our attack….Trossard, Bakayo and Gab where doing just fine. I’m not saying Jesus ain’t important.
@James Mpalanyi
I was thinking about that Jesus’ return somehow disturbed our attack, but when you take a look at the games we have played since he came back I think we’ve only lost ones, which is the man city game and besides we have scored in all the games we played too.
Jesus is not the problem but the defense keep licking goals.
Just my idea and answer to ur question