Move over Trossard: Arteta must now unleash Arsenal’s “Evolving” 23 y/o gem on Nottingham Forest
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Arsenal will return to action this Saturday evening as they make their way to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest in their final away fixture of the Premier League season.
Following their recent result, Mikel Arteta’s side will be determined to finish the season on a positive note after virtually surrendering the title to Manchester City with their defeat against Brighton in the previous match.
The visitors were left deflated after Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical brilliance led Sassuolo to a resounding 3-0 victory at the Emirates. Arsenal had hoped to keep the title race alive until the end, but their aspirations were shattered by the defeat.
The Gunners must now regroup and shift their focus to the challenge posed by Nottingham Forest, who will be no pushovers on their home turf, as they are yet to secure their safety from relegation.
Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a run of two strong results under the guidance of Steve Cooper, putting them in a comfortable position heading into the final two games. A victory against Southampton and a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last week have propelled them three points clear of the relegation zone.
Arsenal will need to deliver an improved performance compared to their last outing, where they allowed their opponents to dominate possession with 59% and create 1.72 expected goals (xG) compared to their own 0.92 xG, resulting in an embarrassing display, according to Sofascore.
Adding to the disappointment of the season-ending defeat, Arsenal received another setback as their joint-top goalscorer, Gabriel Martinelli, was ruled out of the remaining fixtures due to ankle ligament damage suffered in the 20th minute of the previous game.
With Martinelli unavailable this weekend, an opening on the left flank beckons, and two players are vying for the starting position.
The competition to start against Nottingham Forest is likely to be between Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson, with the latter possibly holding the advantage over the Belgian winger.
Despite traditionally playing on the right wing, Nelson’s proficiency with his right foot makes him a potent threat in front of goal from the left-hand side, which could pose significant problems for Forest.
Nelson, a product of Arsenal’s esteemed Hale End academy, featured for 30 minutes in the defeat to Brighton last Sunday and exhibited his liveliness and tenacity in a challenging encounter. Sofascore statistics reveal that he successfully completed two out of three dribbles and won one tackle during his time on the pitch.
The diminutive 5-foot-9 winger has showcased his ability to make an impact in the final third throughout the season, averaging 0.56 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes over the past year, as per FBref data. This underscores his capacity to be a difference-maker in attack.
With ongoing contract negotiations, Nelson could be playing his final two games in an Arsenal shirt. Consequently, Arteta should consider starting him from the outset to not only demonstrate respect but also provide him with an opportunity to showcase his talents in what has unfortunately become a dead-rubber match for the Gunners.