Fabregas Backs Trossard to Replace Injured         Odegaard in Crucial North London Derby

 

Cesc Fabregas has called for Leandro Trossard to start in Arsenal’s midfield against Tottenham, suggesting he is the ideal replacement for the injured Martin Odegaard. Fabregas believes Trossard has the necessary skills to step up if Odegaard is unavailable for the north London derby.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces several selection problems ahead of the match. Declan Rice is suspended, and along with Odegaard, players like Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, Riccardo Calafiori, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also dealing with injuries. Odegaard suffered a concerning ankle injury during Norway’s Nations League game against Austria, which saw him leave the pitch with medical assistance. He was later spotted using crutches as he returned to London, just days before Arsenal’s crucial derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Although the Norwegian team doctor confirmed Odegaard did not suffer a fracture, he is expected to be out for around three weeks. In Odegaard’s absence, Arsenal academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri has been mentioned as a possible solution. While Fabregas sees potential in the 17-year-old, he believes Trossard is better suited to fill Odegaard’s role in the upcoming Premier League fixture.

Fabregas praised Trossard, who usually plays as a winger, for his ability to play in the attacking midfield positions, such as a No. 8 or No. 10, and sees him as a strong candidate to join Thomas Partey and Jorginho in the midfield. He also expressed excitement at seeing young talents like Nwaneri getting their chance in the Premier League.

Fabregas emphasized the importance of this match for Arsenal, considering their ambitions to compete for the title. He noted that, although it’s early in the season, this game holds more weight for Arsenal as they aim to challenge Manchester City in the title race for the third consecutive season.