Home Football Arsenal’s depth was on full display at Villa Park, writes ISAAN KHAN, but can Mikel Arteta keep his entire squad motivated and help them win the title?

Arsenal’s depth was on full display at Villa Park, writes ISAAN KHAN, but can Mikel Arteta keep his entire squad motivated and help them win the title?

Football — 08/26/2024

Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock and stood still in front of the visiting fans. William Saliba was soon begging the Belgian to perform his famous ‘goggles’ celebration.

But, no, Trossard rejected silently, the anguish of sitting on the bench for the second game in a row still fresh in his thoughts.

The attacker joined the game after 65 minutes and, two minutes later, deftly swept Bukayo Saka’s low cutback into the bottom-right corner past Emi Martinez for his first touch of the game.

Trossard has recently been overtaken by Gabriel Martinelli, and he will understandably be upset; for starters, his goal-scoring heroics propelled Arsenal to the brink of the Premier League title last season.

He had started seven of Arsenal’s final eight league games in the previous season, scoring five goals, leaving Martinelli on the bench. Furthermore, he scored 12 goals in total this season, five of which came after being substituted.

Mikel Arteta flexed the strength in depth at his disposal as Arsenal defeated Aston Villa+7View gallery

Mikel Arteta flexed the strength in depth at his disposal as Arsenal defeated Aston Villa

The Gunners comfortably secured a win against a side who won both clashes last season+7View gallery

The Gunners comfortably secured a win against a side who won both clashes last season

Leandro Trossard made his case for a spot in the starting XI with a crucial goal off the bench

Riccardo Calafiori, who cost £42 million, has been Arsenal’s flagship summer addition so far, although he has yet to make a league start – he came on as an 11-minute substitute on Saturday.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was replaced by Jurrien Timber, who has recovered from a small niggle, while Thomas Partey, despite scoring and playing much better than against Wolves, will now be looking over his shoulder as Mikel Merino is scheduled to arrive.

The Belgian put his side ahead with his first touch of the game after being brought on+7View gallery

The Belgian put his side ahead with his first touch of the game after being brought on

Arteta insisted Trossard's mentality has set an example to the rest of his team-mates to followIt’s easier without maverick characters like Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, and the fact that this is a young squad (the average age is 25.6) also helps. However, almost no player wants to sit out.

The minutes played last season emphasise the importance of depth this season.

Arsenal have recruited like a side determined to fight for the title come the end of the season+7View gallery

Arsenal have recruited like a side determined to fight for the title come the end of the season

With a congested schedule ahead of them, depth is going to be key for the Gunners+7View gallery

With a tight schedule ahead of them, depth will be crucial for the Gunners.

Saka battled through injury, and Saliba was one of only two defenders in the league (together with Max Kilman) who played every minute of the season. Mainstays of the starting XI may need to be rotated.

A revised format has resulted in two additional Champions League matches. And let us not forget the unavoidable occurrence of the occasional injury, which every team faces at some point.

As the season progresses, Trossard serves as the ultimate example to his teammates of biting the bullet and proving oneself when given the opportunity. Arteta clearly believes so.