Mikel Arteta broke with his normal approach for the trip to Everton but with good reason. Not one to chop and change, Arteta made five changes from the win over Fulham.
With the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid to come on Tuesday, Arteta rested captain Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli. Bukayo Saka started on the bench as he works his way back to fitness.
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A scrappy game was summed up when Arsenal hit the front in the 34th minute. A lack of communication between Idrissa Gueye and Jarrad Branthwaite allowed Raheem Sterling to break and he found Trossard, who scored with a low left-foot shot into the far corner.
Saka and Martinelli were introduced for Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling but Everton were level inside four minutes — Iliman Ndiaye converted a penalty after Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have brought down Jack Harrison.
Arteta rang the changes, bringing on all his rested stars in the second half, but Arsenal had to settle for a point.
Art de Roche analyses the talking points.
Was rest and rotation the right call?
For all the talk of the next game always being the biggest, Arteta demonstrated where Arsenal’s priorities were by making five changes to his starting line-up.
Nobody could blame the Arsenal manager for having one eye on Real Madrid, especially considering the players he rested.
Arteta made five changes at Goodison Park (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Timber has started 37 games this season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his debut campaign, and needed a rest after coming off with a knee issue against Fulham. Partey has featured in all but one Premier League game this season.
Arsenal’s most used fit outfielders (all competitions before Everton)
|
Player
|
Mins played
|
Starts
|
Apps
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
3,519 |
39 |
40 |
|
|
3,189 |
37 |
41 |
|
|
3,182 |
37 |
41 |
|
|
3,152 |
36 |
43 |
|
|
2,674 |
29 |
44 |
Of those who were available, Martinelli and Odegaard were sixth and seventh among outfielders for most minutes played this term (2,583 and 2,569).
Considering Martinelli’s resurgent performance against Fulham and the physical effort Odegaard usually puts in, saving both for Tuesday’s first leg at the Emirates was the right call.
Last year, Arteta also made five changes when Arsenal hosted Luton Town between away trips to Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion. Their quarter-final against Bayern Munich was the week after, so Arteta needed to make full use of his squad.
Doing the same against Everton could be just as important.
Trossard is a threat on either flank
The finish to make it 1-0 was as clean as you would like.
After three quick touches to set himself and a feint to unbalance Jake O’Brien, Trossard’s control and precision to zip the shot beyond Jordan Pickford along the ground was quality. It was similar to his last league goal, scored against Tottenham Hotspur in January, driven in low with his left foot.
All six of Trossard’s goal contributions in the league since Christmas have been with his left foot. After a year where his output was dominated more by his right foot, this upturn in left-footed goals and assists has been welcome.
Trossard’s Arsenal goals and assists
|
Year
|
Left foot
|
Right foot
|
Head
|
Total
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2023 |
9 (47.3%) |
9 (47.3%) |
1 (5.2%) |
19 |
|
2024 |
5 (27.7%) |
12 (66.6%) |
1 (5.5%) |
18 |
|
2025* |
5 (71.4%) |
2 (28.6%) |
0 |
7 |
As was the case with O’Brien, defenders are left guessing what way the Belgium international will go and it leaves him in control of the situation. His two right-footed goal contributions this calendar year have come in the Champions League, which should bode well for Real Madrid.
Everton are punished on the counter-attack as Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead ⚽
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/2y6XBhTMsQ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
And for readers in the US:
A smooth finish from Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead at Goodison Park. 😮💨
📺 USA Network | #EVEARS pic.twitter.com/pakDrUvAzX
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 5, 2025
Trossard scored in the Champions League round of 16 and quarter-finals last season when Arsenal faced Porto and Bayern Munich. The goals were equalisers, and showed his value as one of Arsenal’s most reliable goal threats on the biggest stage.
Now involved in at least 10 goals for the fifth successive season in the Premier League, Arteta will be hoping the 30-year-old carries this into Europe.
Leandro Trossard has now been directly involved in 10+ goals in each of the last five Premier League seasons.
◎ 2020/21: 10 G/A
◎ 2021/22: 11 G/A
◎ 2022/23: 20 G/A
◎ 2023/24: 13 G/A
◉ 2024/25 10 G/AHe’s the first Arsenal player to score at Goodison in back-to-back… pic.twitter.com/LffCjQWfyY
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 5, 2025
Could White play at centre-back against Madrid?
The chaos that led to Everton’s penalty at the start of the second half underpinned the magnitude of Gabriel’s absence with a hamstring injury.
Neither Jakub Kiwior or Myles Lewis-Skelly took charge of the situation as Pickford’s long ball flew towards them, and allowing that ball to bounce put Lewis-Skelly in a dangerous position.
Kiwior made good interventions in the first half, but he is not as communicative or dominant as Gabriel, which could leave others vulnerable.
The challenge that led to Everton’s penalty.
Correct decision? 🤔
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/IAoT0g5LUZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
And for readers in the U.S.
PENALTY TO EVERTON.
Iliman Ndiaye levels it for the Toffees after Myles Lewis-Skelly is called for a foul in the box. 👀
📺 USA Network | #EVEARS pic.twitter.com/Rs7x3bh8s9
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 5, 2025
That is why the availability of Ben White and Timber was crucial at Goodison. White played 60 minutes for the first time since November, while Timber got 30 minutes, days after a knock to his knee. Both getting on the pitch should mean Arteta has a variety of options for his backline when Arsenal host Real Madrid.
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Kiwior would be the natural selection as a left-footed centre-back, with his passing particularly helpful. But if his shortcomings are too blatant to ignore, the Arsenal manager could do something different. William Saliba regularly plays as a left-sided centre-back for France and could give Lewis-Skelly more support. White could shift in as a right-sided centre-back, where he started his Arsenal career and started at home to Liverpool in October — providing an assist for Saka.
Back fit, Timber returning to right-back should give Arsenal solidity across their back four. Although Arteta has shown public confidence in Kiwior, the prospect of facing Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham is another story.
What did Arteta say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Arsenal?
Tuesday, April 8: Real Madrid (Home), Champions League quarter-final first leg, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
Recommended reading
(Top photo: Trossard celebrates his goal. Carl Recine/Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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