Written back in February last year and I still think it could be an interesting option to try. It would probably depend on the team Arsenal are going up against but I like the idea of Trossard in the eight over something like Zinchenko in the eight.
Against bus teams I’d like to see it definitely but in general he lacks the physicality and defending to be put there against better sides.
Lacks the pressing and physical presence that Arteta wants from a player in that position. There is a reason he rarely plays a “lightweight” player there.
But Viera is most definitely a “lightweight” player and he plays there.
If we had a healthy Timber I’d rather give Tomi the time there. Trossard is too good in the attacking front.
Trossard needs to be ahead of Eddie for striker and rotate with Gabi and Saka when Jesus is healthy. Potentially rotate with Jesus as well. Not sure how Trossard would perform in Kai’s position.
Defense. Even as one of the leaders in the league, we still are out of possession 40% of the time.
You want better than Trossard then
Rice as a 6 lets you get away with this imo
That’s like replacing Saka or Martinelli with Pete or ESR before defensively. Arteta wants that defensive attributes and balance between attacking and defending. If you take out our lanky German for Trossard, what you get is less energy less control and less potency in attack.
He certainly has the technical ability but I think his strengths are ball retention in tight spaces, dribbling and shooting. Our left and right 8’s role is about physicality, progressive passing and late runs into the box to finish off cutbacks
Think we’ve tried it already, both in training and in games. If it worked the way Arteta wants to we would’ve been seeing him there a lot more often
Trossard can’t press or stay fit
Nah, I love Trossard but he’s too small. Part of the idea of Kai in the 8 is that he wins the ball in the air and passes progressively. (He hasn’t really but that’s the idea)
A diminutive CM might work in Spain, but in the PL I think it’s asking to get bullied.
We’ve reached a point where we have a deep enough squad that these discussions are happening more regularly now. The reality is that Trossard is very good and, as fans, we’ll try to force him into the preferred XI in any way we can. We need to settle in to the new normal and understand that rotation is going to happen and should happen if we are to challenge on multiple fronts.
I seem to recall Arteta trying this in preseason this year. Trossard is great at interchanging and working openings around the top left corner of the box. It’s a good option for matches where Arsenal are on the front foot heavily.
I feel like Xhaka has a better penetrating pass than Leandro
This was actually tried once or twice in preseason if i remember correctly. Please stop asking for it.
Tried successfully tbf
No. I can see the thinking here and Arteta should try this against lower level opposition but Xhaka did a lot more than bomb forward and occupy the left half spaces brilliantly.