ARSENAL winger Leandro Trossard is not available for the North London Derby due to a muscular injury, Mikel Arteta has revealed.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the Spaniard explained: “He felt something. He felt a muscle tightness yesterday in training and he wasn’t fit enough to play the game.”
AlamyLeandro Trossard will not be involved in the North London Derby due to a muscle issue[/caption]
GettyGabriel Martinelli is also unavailable[/caption]
Trossard was expected to replace Gabriel Martinelli in the starting line-up.
The Brazilian picked up a hamstring injury during last week’s match against Everton and has not been able to train since.
With both wingers absent, Gabriel Jesus is set to start on the left, with Eddie Nketiah leading the line for Arteta’s side.
Arsenal fans have now started to brand the club’s current situation as an “injury crisis”.
One person tweeted: “Partey, Martinelli, Trossard, Timber. That’s an injury crisis and the fact we are excited by this 11 just shows the strength in depth in this squad is now at the elite level.”
Another added: “Timber, Martinelli and now Trossard .”
While a third fan wrote: “Key players getting injured will cost Arsenal trophies yet again. What is the staff doing? Something doesn’t add up.”
Fabio Vieira has also been named in the starting line-up, with Kai Havertz dropping to the bench.
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Martin Odegaard, who signed a new five-year deal earlier this week, starts in midfield alongside Declan Rice.
And David Raya keeps his spot in goal, with Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in defence.
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has named summer signing Brennan Johnson in his starting line-up.
It will be the former Nottingham Forest star’s first start for Spurs.