Everton 1 Arsenal 1-The eye of Arte on Madrid, lethal left foot of Trossard, is the central back option white?
Mikel Arte broke with her normal approach to Everton’s trip but with good reasons. Not one to cut and change, Arte made five changes to the victory over Fulham.
With the first stage of their quarter -final of the Champions League against Real Madrid who will arrive Tuesday, Arte rested captain Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Party and Gabriel Martinelli. Bukayo Saka started on the bench while returning to fitness.
A poor game was summarized when Arsenal hit the front in the 34th minute. A lack of communication between Idrissa Gueye and Jarrad Gethwaite allowed Raheem Sterling to break and found Trossard, who marked with a low -left shot in the distant corner.
Saka and Martinelli were introduced for Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling but Everton were at the level in four minutes-theiman Ndiaye converted a penalty after Myles Lewis-Skelly was judged for knocking down Jack Harrison.
Arte phoned the changes, bringing all its stars rested in the second half, but Arsenal had to settle for a point.
Art de Roche analyzes the discussion points.
Was the rest and rotation the right call?
For all the speeches of the next ever bigger game, Arte has shown where the priorities of Arsenal were made by making five changes to its initial formation.
Nobody could blame the Arsenal manager for having an eye on Real Madrid, especially considering the players he had rested.
Arte has made five changes to Goodison Park (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Timber started 37 games this season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament ligament injury in his debut campaign and needed rest after going out with a knee problem against Fulham. Party appeared in all games except a Premier League this season.
Most used Fit Outfielder in Arsenal (all competitions before Everton)
|
Player |
Mins played |
Start |
App |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 the outfielders for most of the minutes played this term (2,583 and 2,569).
Considering that Martinelli’s resurgent performance against Fulham and physical effort Odegaard usually puts, save both for Tuesday’s first leg at the Emirates was the right call.
Last year, Arte also made five changes when Arsenal hosted Luton Town among the trips to Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion. Their quarter final against Bayern Munich was the next week, so Arte had to take advantage of his team.
Doing the same against Everton could be equally important.
Trossard is a threat on both sides
The finish to make it 1-0 was clean as you would like.
After three quick touches to set himself and a fake to unbalance Jake O’Brien, Trossard’s control and the precision to compensate the shot beyond Jordan Pickford along the ground was of quality. He was similar to his last goal in the championship, scored against Tottenham Hotspur in January, pushed down with his left foot.
All six contributions of Trossard’s league goals from Christmas were with the left foot. After a year in which his production was more dominated by the right foot, this recovery in objectives and left -wing assistance was welcome.
Trossard Arsenal objectives 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 in the case of O’Brien, the defenders are left to guess how Belgium International will go and leave it to control the situation. His two contributions for the goal with his right foot this civil year have arrived in the Champions League, which should be a good omen for Real Madrid.
Everton are punished on the counterattack while Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the lead ⚽
📺 @Tntsports AND @Discoverylplusuk pic.twitter.com/2y6xbtmsq
– Football on tnt sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
And for readers in the United States:
A smooth finish by Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal the command to Goodison Park. 😮 Let’s
📺 US NETWORK | #Evears pic.twitter.com/pakdruvazx
– NBC Sports Soccer (@nbcsportssoccer) April 5, 2025
Trossard scored in the 16 and quarter -final Champions League round last season when Arsenal faced Porto and Bayern Munich. The objectives were equalizer, showing its value as one of the most reliable threats of the Arsenal objectives in the largest phase.
He recorded at least 10 “Objectives involvement” (combined Goal and Assists) in the Premier League for five consecutive seasons. Arte hopes that the thirty year old will bring this sharpness to Europe.
Leandro Trossard has now been directly involved in over 10 goals in each of the last five seasons in the Premier League.
◎ 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 is the first Arsenal player to score at Goodison in Back-to-back … pic.twitter.com/lffcjqwfyy
– Squawka (@squawka) April 5, 2025
Could White play the central defender against Madrid?
The chaos that led to Everton’s penalty at the beginning of the second half supported the extent of Gabriel’s absence with an injury to the knee tendon.
Neither Jakub Kiwior nor Lewis-Skelly took care of the situation while the long pickford ball flew towards them and allowing her to bounce Lewis-Skelly in a dangerous position.
Kiwior has made good interventions in the first half, but is not communicative or dominant like Gabriel, who could leave the other vulnerables.
The challenge that led to Everton’s penalty.
Correct decision? 🤔
📺 @Tntsports AND @Discoverylplusuk pic.twitter.com/iaot0g5luz
– Football on tnt sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
And for readers in the United States
Penalties for Everton.
Iliman Ndiaye level for the tuff after Myles Lewis-Skelly is called for a foul in the box. 👀
📺 US NETWORK | #Evears pic.twitter.com/rs7x3bh8s9
– NBC Sports Soccer (@nbcsportssoccer) April 5, 2025
That’s why Ben White’s availability and timber was crucial. White started in the championship for the first time since November, while Timber got 30 minutes, days after a knee knock. Tuesday Arte should have options for its background line.
Kiwior would be the natural selection as a central defender on the left, with his particularly useful passage. But if its deficiencies are too clear to be ignored, the Arsenal manager could do something different. William Saliba regularly plays as a central defender on the left side for France and could give Lewis-Skelly more support. White could move as a central defender on the right side, where he began his career in Arsenal and began home in Liverpool in October, providing assistance for Saka.
Timber’s return to the right back should give Arsenal solidity through the four places. Although Arte has shown confidence in the public in Kiwior, the prospect of facing Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham is another story.
What did Arte say?
We will bring you this after talking to the post-match press conference.
Which after for Arsenal?
Tuesday 8 April: Real Madrid (Home), Champions League Quarter-Final Lant Leg, 20:00 UK, 15:00 et
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(Photo above: Trossard celebrates its goal. Carl Recine/Getty Images)
