It took just six minutes for Leandro Trossard to make his mark against Brentford. Ultimately, it wasnât enough to secure Arsenal the win they desperately needed, but it was the latest indicator of the impact the ÂŁ25-million January signing can have.
Trossard has started on the bench for all of Arsenalâs three league games since his arrival from Brighton, with Mikel Arteta keeping faith in Gabriel Martinelli, despite the young Brazilianâs stuttering form of late.
In many ways that is no surprise, such has been the level of Martinelliâs performances over the course of the season. It shows a sense of loyalty from the manager in the core group of players that have put Arsenal in this tantalising position at the top of the Premier League with less than half a season remaining.
But after a run of three games without a win in all competitions, that loyalty must now be being tested more than it has at any point in the campaign so far. And if it isnât, then it should be.
âYou always think about that with a few players when you lose [points],â Arteta said after Saturdayâs draw, when asked if he thought his players were starting to show signs of tiredness. âThose questions are always when you drop points. Iâm delighted with how the boys tried and how much they wanted it.â
Arsenal werenât poor against Brentford. They just came up against one of the Premier Leagueâs most in-form teams, who produced the type of performance that highlighted why they have gone 10 top-flight games unbeaten.
But Artetaâs side did look jaded and short of ideas, predictable even. Just as they did at Everton a week earlier. The energy that has been the hallmark of Arsenalâs season wasnât there. Brentford sat deep, nullified the space and Artetaâs side had little answer.
Martinelli, as he has done since the turn of the year, looked short of imagination and struggled in the limited amount of space Brentfordâs excellent defence allowed him.
Thatâs perhaps understandable given the amount of games heâs played this season, both for club and country, All players, especially young players, will have dips in form over the course of the campaign and Martinelli is enduring that right now.
Thatâs why Saturdayâs game felt like the perfect opportunity for Arteta to give the 21-year-old a bit of a rest. To take him out of the firing line and give Trossard his chance from the start.
But Arsenalâs manager resisted that temptation. He picked the same XI that lost at Everton last weekend. In fact, he picked the same XI that heâs picked in every league game since the World Cup. Thereâs loyalty, but then maybe there is also too much loyalty. It feels like Arteta is perhaps showing that right now.
âWith the players we have, we try to maximise our resources,â explained the Arsenal boss. âSo far theyâve done really well.
âItâs not an issue the way the boys tried. I look at their body language, their intentions and how much they want it. They are in a great place.â
At times during the first half of the season, Arteta was forced into playing the same starting XI due to injuries and the size of the squad. Even if he wanted to change things, he couldnât really do it. But he does have that option now. The January transfer window has given him that.
So far, however, he appears reluctant to rock the boat, and Arsenal have begun to look a bit predictable as a result. Every team they come up against knows exactly what to expect. Thomas Frank even pointed to that after Saturdayâs game when he highlighted the need to double up against Arsenalâs wingers to nullify their attack.
It will be intriguing to see what Arteta does now against Manchester City on Wednesday night. The fact Trossard has backed up his impressive cameos with a goal will only increase the pressure on him to play the Belgian international from the start.
But one thing Arteta has shown this season is that he will not bow to any outside pressure. If he does make changes, it will be on his own terms.
He stayed loyal against Brentford, possibly to his and his teamâs detriment. Maybe now a ruthless edge is what is needed to reignite Arsenalâs fire.