FINISH THEM

COACH Mikel Arteta is taking a revolutionary approach at Arsenal this season, saying his super subs are going to be more important than the starters. 

And the proof is in the pudding, with his finishers making an impact every time they take the field. 

Leandro Trossard teed up Martin Zubimendi straight after coming on in their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the weekend, before the Belgian teamed up with fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli to star off the bench for the Gunners in the Champions League on Tuesday. 

The scoreboard read 0-0 against Athletic Bilbao in Spain before the duo were introduced – Trossard in the 65th minute and Martinelli in the 71st. 

They made an immediate impact, looking jitz from the moment they took the field. Trossard first set up Martinelli with a flick-on on the halfway line, with the Brazilian then scoring the opener within a minute of coming on. 

He then repaid the favour 15 minutes later, running down the left before squaring the ball for Trossard to make it a 2-0 win to the Gunners. 

En soe sal dit gaan, reckons Arteta, who said: “[The substitutes] are at least equally important, if not more important.

“We have discussed that – the finishers are going to be more important this season sometimes than the starters, and we can change the game then, when teams start to drop off.

“We started to grow throughout the game. In the second half, we were more fluent, dominant and the finishers made the impact for us to win the game.

“[Martinelli] fully deserves it. I adore Gabi, his attitude, his commitment, his positivity and what he is willing to do for the team.

“We value all the qualities he has and what he brings to the team and I’m so happy that today [Tuesday] he decided the game for us in two actions.

“These are the moments that are hopefully going to give him the confidence [he needs].”