Mikel Arteta could be deprived of his secret weapon for Arsenal's crucial Premier League trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend, with in-form winger Leandro Trossard a major doubt due to injury.
Injury Blow During Bayern Triumph
The concern emerged during Arsenal's impressive 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. The Belgian international was forced off after just 38 minutes with what appeared to be a calf problem, casting a shadow over an otherwise perfect European night for the Gunners.
Speaking after the match, a cautious Arteta revealed the extent of the uncertainty, stating, "With Leo, we don't know [the extent of the injury]. He said he felt something. We didn't want to take any risks, obviously." His replacement, Noni Madueke, seized the opportunity, coming on to score his first goal for the club and dazzle the home crowd.
Trossard's Stunning Record Against Chelsea
A potential absence for Trossard is particularly painful for Arsenal given his phenomenal personal record against their London rivals. The forward has faced Chelsea 10 times throughout his career and has been on the losing side only once—a 3-1 defeat for Brighton in 2020, a match in which he still managed to score.
Since that solitary loss, Trossard has remained unbeaten against the Blues, adding a further three goals to his tally. He has only scored more times against Liverpool, highlighting his penchant for the big occasion.
His importance in this fixture was starkly evident last season. In the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, Trossard came off the bench to score a dramatic 84th-minute equaliser. Later, in the 5-0 rout at the Emirates Stadium, he set the tone by opening the scoring after just four minutes, later describing the performance as 'the perfect night'.
Arteta's Alternatives and the Road Ahead
On paper, Arsenal possess considerable depth in wide areas. Arteta can call upon the talents of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, and Bukayo Saka.
However, replacing Trossard's current form is a different challenge entirely. The Belgian has been in scintillating touch, contributing two goals and two assists in his last four league appearances.
With a busy fixture period on the horizon, even a minor issue could prompt Arteta to rest his key man. While the backup options are strong, there's no denying that Arsenal may have to face Chelsea without their most potent and proven weapon in this particular London derby.
