Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Leandro Trossard on the club’s official website for his performance against Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Arteta believes that he was justified in bringing on January signing Trossard for Brazil international forward Gabriel Martinelli in the second half of the match between Arsenal and Brentford.
The Gunners played out a 1-1 draw with the Bees in the London derby.
It was Trossard who scored for Arsenal.
The goal from the Belgium international winger came midway through the second half.
Ivan Toney restored parity for Brentford on 74 minutes.
Martinelli started the match for Arsenal.
However, the 21-year-old Brazil international forward could not really have a massive impact on the game.
Arsenal manager Arteta decided to take off Martinelli on 62 minutes and brought on Trossard.
Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard for Arsenal v Brentford
Arteta said: “We took Gabi off for Leo because when Leo’s in those spaces, he’s so good.
“He’s so composed, he’s constantly faking movements, playing forwards, he’s got a smell for where the ball is going to land, and we believe it was the right choice to get him on today.”
Encouraging perfomance
In our view, Leandro Trossard was one of the very few Arsenal players who did well against Brentford in the London derby on Saturday.
The Belgian added much-needed energy to the team, and he was able to make an immediate impact.
Arsenal are a better squad with Trossard in it.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion winger has given Arteta another valuable option in attack.
It will be interesting to see if Arteta decides to include Trossard in his starting lineup on a regular basis in the coming weeks.
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