Leandro Trossard 'up front' vs Everton as Arsenal training footage reveals key transformation

[ UK TV LIVE ]

Arsenal's preparations for Sunday's Premier League clash against Everton are now complete with further footage from training being released ahead of the trip to Goodison Park as Mikel Arteta's side look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The good news following the international break is the Gunners manager has a near fully-fit squad to choose from. This is despite concerns that were raised over Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka as it's just Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey who are definitely unavailable for selection because of injury.

Although with several senior players representing their respective nations over the past fortnight, Arteta hasn't had much time to work with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and captain Martin Odegaard on the training pitch: "Yeah, that's today," the Arsenal manager said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. "Today is the first time that we can do a little bit because for some players it was a lot to do as well.

"So it's just managing that, we knew that from the start. Don't try to give them too much information and make sure that everybody is clear on what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and our way of playing. That’s it."

With the task of beating Everton away from home for the first time since 2017 set in stone, the Spaniard and his coaching staff have put the players through their paces during a training session at London Colney and here's what we spotted from the 'Inside Training' video uploaded by the club ahead of the big game on Merseyside.

Togetherness

The Arsenal men's and women's teams are fully integrated. This was evident once again from around the 0.32-mark in the aforementioned video as whilst Gabriel, Martinelli and Fabio Vieira are doing some strength work, members of Jonas Eidevall's squad can be seen in the background making full use of the gym.

It's not too long ago when women's star Jen Beattie hailed Arteta for bringing an 'unreal culture shift' to the club: "We're not on the exact training pitch, we're kind of spread out over the training ground so we're fully integrated in the sense that we're at the training ground," she said on Drivetime.

"We all have different schedules, plays on different days, training times are different, but the atmosphere is class at the minute. That's what success brings, the men's team are doing so well, the kind of culture shift that Mikel Arteta has brought in has been unreal."

READ MORE: Arsenal monitoring Gabriel Magalhaes injury issue as crucial player nears return

Height

Research, as per the Liverpool Echo, has calculated that Everton have the tallest team in the Premier League this season with an average height of 185cm or 6ft 1in. Automatically that makes Sean Dyche's side a massive threat at set pieces and Arsenal only need to look at the corresponding fixture last season to know that will be the case this weekend.

However, the Gunners do seem much more prepared this time around. As Jakub Kiwior, Ben White as well as summer signings Kai Havertz and Declan Rice gathered together for the start of training it was noticeable that there is a bit of height in this team too and that's without mentioning William Saliba, Gabriel and Takehiro Tomiyasu who are all over 6ft.

Goals competition

During the summer, Arsenal appointed Hussein Isa as their new attacking-phase coach. And during Friday's session, he got to work closely with Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard as a friendly competition emerged as to who could score the most goals during a shooting drill.

Safe to say the finishing, at times, was of the highest order with all three finding the net with brilliant volleys, and judging by Saka's rather nonchalant celebration right at the end it would appear that he came out on top. Although, many supporters commenting on the YouTube video were impressed with Trossard.

So much so that there are calls for the Belgium international to start at Goodison Park. For example, @JasonBebopp343 suggested: "Give Saka a break and start Trossard", @thierryhenry674's preferred line-up includes Trossard in attack and @bendiengdoh3022 said: "And Trossard up front."

Order your copy of the Gunners in Europe TODAY

Arsenal have returned to the Champions League after a six year absence - and confidence is high Mikel Arteta’s men can make a genuine run to the final at Wembley.

Our special preview of the Gunners’ 2023/24 Champions League campaign provides the ultimate guide to the tournament.

It costs just £3 and is on sale for advance order* on the online shop NOW and in retail outlets from September 17. Just click here to order your copy today.

*Delivery from 13th September onwards

Adblock test (Why?)