Arteta should boldly drop Nwaniri and unleash the 'lethal' Arsenal star instead

Arsenal They are one of the best teams in Premier Leaguewith great quality to benefit from Manchester CityFall and win their first title in two decades.

However, injuries have been a major factor in the poor results this season, and with Liverpool flying high at the top of the table, Mikel Arteta He knows that strong performance must be maintained throughout the new year.

In fairness, the Gunners started strongly on New Year's Day, serving out Brentford In their own backyard to move six points clear of the league leaders, and now, against Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal need to extend their winning run away from home.

Brighton have started strongly under 31-year-old Fabian Horzler, but have failed to win any of their past seven matches and have dropped to 10th place, 12 points behind Arsenal.

Arsenal may have a number of key absences, but Arteta will be confident his side can build on their promising run against the Seagulls, where they have lost one of their past five matches in all competitions and avoided defeat in each of their previous four visits to Arsenal. AMEX.

Arsenal team news

Goren Timber He joins his teammates on the bench as he serves a one-match ban, and that means it Thomas Partey He will likely return to the right-back position Ben White He is working on coming back from injury At the end of January.

And continue to advance on the field, Kai Havertz He will look to regain his regular presence in the team after overcoming the illness Bukayo Saka Of course it remains out for a long time.

Raheem Sterling and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out in another debilitating blow to Arsenal's right side.

Many fans will be hoping to see them Ethan Nwaniri He played from the start after his impressive start at Gtech on Wednesday, but the 17-year-old may be better off entering the fray after the break. This is why.

Why should Arteta do without Ethan Nwaneri?

Arsenal have a bit of a habit of producing stars, with Saka establishing himself as one of the best strikers in Europe under Arteta's wing and… He scored nine goals and 13 assists Across 24 matches this term.

Saka, 23, has been a treat for Emirates fans for several years, but in Nwaniri, Arsenal may have a talent capable of rising to the same level.

He described it as “an absolute diamond.” Talent scout Jacek KulejNwaniri made his Premier League debut in place of Saka at Brentford, and impressed with his silky passes, energy and progression, particularly making two key passes and completing two of his three dribble attempts. According to Sovascor.

However, Arteta needs a clinical edge against a Brighton side that is vulnerable to poor defence, largely due to being stretched thin due to their expansive style of football.

However, Saka's absence heightens the need for more effectiveness Gabriel Martinelli And the shape Gabriel Jesus Obtained last time, it might be wise to unleash it Leandro Trossard For this one.

Leandro Trossard could send Brighton packing

Trossard has been a smart signing indeed at the Emirates. He scored 22 goals and assisted 15 others During 94 matches with Arsenal, he started only 50 matches.

According to UnderstatBrighton underperformed with a goal concede ratio of 2.49, meaning that their somewhat shaky back line actually prevented more goals than expected from their opponents' chances.

This requires someone like Trossard, who can ease the burden on Jesus in the ninth position and ensure he plays freely in search of goals but also crucial connections.

According to FBrefThe Belgian ranks in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year in terms of goals scored (0.53) per 90, suggesting his skill set could indeed be the secret recipe for success on the south coast.

Trossard may not have been at his best recently, however He has scored one goal in his last 13 Premier League matchesBut there is no denying his constant ability to shoot the ball Wasted three great opportunities this year After scoring three goals and creating six great chances.

last season, Journalist Sam Dean waxed lyrical On the 29-year-old's goal-scoring ability, he said: “Leandro Trossard may not be Arsenal's most skillful, quick or powerful striker. But he is their most lethal.”

As mentioned earlier, there is also the matter of Nwaniri coming in and influencing the play a little deeper, going electric and driving balls forward, for example, for Trossard to catch and move into the bottom corner.

Arteta will be reluctant to leave Martinelli out after his recent improvements, even though they may be temporary, while Jesus is putting in an inspiring display at the moment and it would be silly to withdraw the same goal threat from the side – especially in Saka's continued absence.

Nwaniri should be eased into the team, not burdened, and allowed to build on his early qualities as he works towards Premier League stardom.

Trossard is the right man for the job against his former club…