“I scored a hat-trick against them last two season”, Leandro Trossard told Mikel Arteta the only way to beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane
Arsenal’s fourth game of the 2024/25 season is the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners will be desperate to get back to winning ways after drawing against Brighton and Hove Albion in controversial fashion just before the international break.
The clash against Spurs is always a big one, and Arsenal have almost always been the favourites in this fixture. However, the derby on Sunday could be more evenly balanced.
That’s because seven Arsenal players could be ruled out of the game against Tottenham, which makes them weaker.
However, Mikel Arteta still has many top-class players available at his disposal for the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Why Leandro Trossard is more likely to start than Raheem Sterling for Arsenal vs Tottenham
Arsenal signed Leandro Trossard for an initial £20 million in January 2023, and he has been one of the best value-for-money signings in recent years.
The Belgian has been a super-sub of sorts for the Gunners on many occasions, but he definitely has the quality to start and have an impact as well.
Against Tottenham on Sunday, Arsenal will likely be without Martin Odegaard, so that opens the door for another attacker to come in.
GiveMeSport claim that Trossard is a candidate to start in the North London Derby, and the report reveals that he is ‘more likely’ to get the nod than Raheem Sterling.
The Englishman is in line to make his Arsenal debut on Sunday, but it has been claimed that Trossard’s ‘understanding of the team and the system’ puts him ahead in the pecking order.
The former Brighton man is a terrific footballer, and he definitely has the ability to hurt Tottenham if he starts this weekend.
How Arsenal can use both Sterling and Trossard in the same team
Both Sterling and Trossard are incredibly versatile players – they can play anywhere in the front three and the Belgian can even play in midfield.
Cesc Fabregas urged Arteta to use Trossard in Martin Odegaard’s position in the North London Derby, and we think that makes a lot of sense.
The Belgian can interchange positions with Havertz up top, and if they get their movements right, they could cause Tottenham all sorts of problems.
If Trossard starts as Arsenal’s number 10, that opens the door for Sterling to play on the left flank. His pace could really hurt Spurs and he could become an instant hero on Sunday.
It will be interesting to what Arteta will do in the North London Derby, but we think a front three of Sterling, Havertz and Bukayo Saka with Trossard behind them is the best option.
