As Arsenal prepare for their crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, forward Leandro Trossard has admitted that the Gunners need to be more ruthless in front of goal if they want to turn around their recent fortunes. Mikel Arteta’s side have gone four league games without a win since their 5th October victory, a worrying trend punctuated by their failure to score in their last two matches.
The lack of goals was particularly evident in Arsenal’s midweek Champions League defeat to Inter Milan, where despite registering 21 shots, only four were on target. Trossard, who has started seven Premier League games this season and found the net twice, acknowledged the need for improvement in the final third.
“I think so,” Trossard said when asked if Arsenal needed to make more of their chances. “There was a similar path last year. People were doubting about scoring and after January we had a spell of five or six games where we were putting five past opponents. Every season you have a rough period and it’s down to us to get going again.”
Despite the recent goal drought, the Belgian international emphasized that belief within the squad remains high, stating, “The belief in the team is still really high. We have such great players and we can turn it around quickly.” This confidence will be put to the test against a resurgent Chelsea side that currently sits above Arsenal on goal difference.
Ødegaard Return Could Spark Attack
One boost for Arsenal’s attacking prospects is the expected return of captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been sidelined with injury but made his comeback as a substitute against Inter. Trossard has shouldered additional creative responsibility in the Norwegian’s absence and will hope to combine effectively with him to unlock the Chelsea defense.
“Obviously we want to win more,” Trossard added. “I think we had a good game on Wednesday. We didn’t score and they scored a penalty. In general we are pushing to win games and score goals. It just needs to click and hopefully that will be on Sunday.”
Injury Concerns for Key Players
Arteta will be sweating on the fitness of several key players ahead of the trip to West London, with doubts remaining over the participation of Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, and Kai Havertz. Their availability could have a significant impact on Arsenal’s ability to control the midfield battle and create chances for the likes of Trossard and Gabriel Jesus.
Familiar Face Thriving at Chelsea
One of the driving forces behind Chelsea’s improved form under new manager Enzo Maresca has been the outstanding performances of Moisés Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder, who Trossard played alongside at Brighton, has quickly become a key figure at Stamford Bridge, a fact not lost on his former teammate.
“He’s definitely a top player,” Trossard said of Caicedo. “I saw straight away when he came into the team at Brighton that he could be a big player for a big team. At the start that was hard but maybe because of the situation at Chelsea. But now he is having a bigger role and bigger impact.”
Trossard will be hoping to get the better of Caicedo and inspire Arsenal to a much-needed victory that would not only end their winless run but also provide a statement of intent in the increasingly competitive race for Champions League qualification. The Gunners faithful will be desperate to see their side rediscover their cutting edge and pile the pressure on their top-four rivals.
As the London derby looms, all eyes will be on Trossard and his Arsenal teammates to see if they can answer the call for greater ruthlessness in front of goal and reignite their season against a confident Chelsea outfit. With both sides knowing the importance of securing victory, Sunday’s clash promises to be a fascinating battle of attacking prowess and defensive resilience.
