Plenty of Arsenal players will have to fight for their place in Mikel Arteta’s plans this season.
Of course, competition for places is a positive, healthy thing to exist within a squad, and is something that Mikel Arteta has actively sought to engineer.
For instance, the signing of Riccardo Calafiori this summer has left Arsenal with an abundance of options to play at left-back this season. On top of the Italian, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jakub Kiwior can all feature in that part of the pitch.
Zinchenko has welcomed this competition, and the Ukrainian will certainly need to be at his best if he wants to get regular game time for the Gunners over the course of the campaign.
Arteta will also want the same level of competition to exist amongst his contingent of attacking players, too. For that reason, Arsenal are currently in the market for a striker, despite already having Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus vying for the right to lead the line.
As for the left flank, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard will go head-to-head for a starting berth this season.
(L-R) Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on May 06, 2023 in St Albans, England.
Gabriel Martinelli embraces Leandro Trossard threat
Martinelli began last season at Arteta’s first choice pick on the left wing. However, the Brazilian endured a difficult campaign by his own standards and was usurped by Trossard during the run-in.
The Belgian produced a sparkling run of form in the latter stages of the campaign. At once stage, Trossard was likened to Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg, such was the scale of his impact.
However, a new season means a new start for both players, and Martinelli is clearly up for the fight for the shirt.
Speaking to Football.London, the 23-year-old said: ““I think it’s good for the team, you know. We try to do our best on the pitch to win every game, so it’s good to have two players fighting for the positions.
“Arsenal is happy with that and I am also so we try to give our best to win the games.”
Arsenal fans take aim at Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli was given the nod to start against Lyon in Sunday afternoon’s Emirates Cup win. Whilst the attacker started brightly, showing great intent and enthusiasm, his decision-making and final ball let him down on a couple of occasions, and he faded noticeably as the game went on.
Of course, this was partly due to being slightly short on fitness and lacking in match sharpness, but in any case he needs to do more to impress. Arsenal fans criticised Martinelli heavily after that match, and it is clear that Trossard is currently the preferred option in the eyes of the Emirates Stadium faithful.
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