Mikel Arteta urged to drop Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli for clash against title rivals Manchester City

Mikel Arteta has been urged to drop Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal’s clash with Premier League title rivals Manchester City.

Arsenal welcome Man City to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in a potentially huge game in this season’s Premier League title race.

The Gunners have been the pace-setters in the English top-flight this term but are going through a slight wobble, losing to Everton last weekend and failing to beat Brentford at home on Saturday.

Manchester City have not been at their scintillating best this season and suffered a disappointing defeat to Tottenham last weekend, but Pep Guardiola’s side will move to within three points of Arsenal if they beat Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. Arteta will be desperate for Arsenal to produce an improved performance when defending champions Man City travel to north London and has been urged to drop Martinelli for January signing Leandro Trossard.

I don’t think Gabriel Martinelli has been great lately,’ former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop told ESPN. ‘When he has come on, Leandro Trossard has had an impact.

‘So if you’re Arteta, I think the time is right to think: “Well, do I now play Trossard from the very start?”.

Now, Martinelli is quick, and defences coming up against that kind of pace, you have to adjust just for that pure speed that Martinelli brings. But he hasn’t had much of an impact. He’s not been playing well and is struggling a bit.

‘So the easy change I think given the form of Trossard, given the fact that he’s finally got on the scoresheet for Arsenal, is that you have to play him from the very start.’

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