Arsenal continued their strong start to the season with a convincing 2-0 victory against Aston Villa on Saturday, keeping yet another clean sheet.
The Gunners have now recorded back-to-back wins, first against Wolves and then Villa, both without conceding a single goal.
However, the game against Villa wasn’t smooth sailing for Arsenal. The Gunners struggled to break down Villa’s defense despite dominating possession.
It seemed like the frustrations of last season, when Arsenal lost both legs to Villa, were creeping back in.
Then Mikel Arteta made a crucial substitution, bringing on Leandro Trossard to replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing.
Trossard made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch. Thomas Partey added a second goal minutes later, sealing the victory for Arsenal.
However, Trossard’s celebration raised eyebrows, particularly from former Villa star Chris Sutton.
What Chris Sutton thinks
Speaking to The Monday Night Club, former Villa star Chris Sutton noticed something unusual during the match. He questioned Trossard’s reaction after scoring his goal.
“What was up with Trossard? That was very strange, wasn’t it? What was he playing at?”
Sutton continued,
“He scored a wonderful goal. He was so important to them last season. What is it with these modern players that they are so angry when they are taken off or when they come off the bench? Why can’t they just get on with it? Arteta is big on team spirit and team morale. I am not sure how he would have taken that, actually. I don’t think he would have taken it well. He is big on this togetherness and it’s a squad game.”
CS opinion
Trossard always seems to perform better when he comes on as a substitute. This might actually work in Arteta’s favor, allowing him to use Trossard as a game-changer when the team needs it most.
His impact on the field is undeniable and crucial for our ongoing success, even though his celebration may not have been ideal.
