Ed Aarons assesses the new, improved Arsenal
There were rumours that [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard could be allowed to depart in the summer but it is understood [Mikel] Arteta was keen to keep both despite the arrivals of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. Martinelli and Trossard scored 10 goals each last season and made regular contributions, even if the former has struggled to hit the heights of the 2022-23 campaign when he managed 15. But the Brazilian’s pace provides a very different option on the left to Eze, who prefers to drift inside.
Read Barney Ronay on Erling Haaland 2.0
Pep Guardiola’s eyes boggled with pleasure as he spoke about the relentlessness of his players. “Erling is a machine,” was Jérémy Doku’s verdict after Erling Haaland had scored two fine goals and in between spent much of the game running over the various portions of sullen human flesh acting as the United defence.
William Saliba returns from injury for Arsenal, one of two changes from the midweek win in Bilbao. Leandro Trossard is preferred to Eberechi Eze on the left wing; Cristhian Mosquera maeks way for Saliba. Oh, and Bukayo Saka is fit enough to be on the bench.
