Steven Gerrard has delivered a stark warning to Mikel Arteta: Arsenal must upgrade their left flank this summer, and the message is crystal clear — Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are under serious scrutiny.
Despite Arsenal’s heroic run this season, which still sees them battling on four fronts heading into the final stretch, the Gunners’ failure to lift silverware in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City last weekend has only intensified the spotlight on areas crying out for improvement.
With a commanding nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League (albeit with Pep Guardiola’s side holding a game in hand), Arsenal remain genuine contenders for the title, FA Cup and Champions League. Yet behind the scenes, sporting director Andrea Berta is already mapping out the summer rebuild, and one position stands out as a priority: the left-sided forward role.
Former Liverpool captain and Premier League legend Steven Gerrard has not minced his words. Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard insisted that Arsenal will “potentially go for a player on the left” this summer, openly questioning whether the current options are enough to take the team to the next level.
“I don’t think Gabriel Martinelli has been as good as he was previously maybe and Leandro Trossard is a good player, but that is an area they might look at in terms of how to get the team and squad better,” Gerrard said.
The statistics back up the concern. Martinelli, once a dynamic and goal-threatening presence on the left, has managed just one Premier League goal all season. While his work rate and pressing remain valuable, his end product has dipped noticeably. Trossard, meanwhile, has shown flashes of quality but has arguably been more effective as an impact substitute rather than a consistent starter.
Gerrard’s comments suggest Arteta is ready to make a ruthless call: it’s time to axe the current duo and bring in a “spectacular, game-changing beast” who can finally unlock the left side and strike genuine fear into Premier League defences.
Ally McCoist, another voice with deep insight into the pressures of top-level management, echoed the need for squad evolution. The former Rangers striker believes Arsenal will strengthen regardless, but the scale of investment — and even Arteta’s own future — could hinge on how the campaign concludes.
“You always look to bring players in and strengthen your squad and that will be the case and I think Arsenal will look to strengthen,” McCoist said. “But a lot of it will be determined by how the season goes and even what happens to the manager as well because the pressure on Arsenal is absolutely immense.”
McCoist also highlighted the current strength of the Gunners’ depth, noting they currently have “two players for every position,” yet he accepts that quality upgrades remain essential if Arsenal are to finally end their trophy drought.
The timing could not be more critical. Arsenal return to action after the international break with a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton, followed by the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Sporting CP. Every result from here will shape not only their silverware hopes but also the magnitude of the summer overhaul.
If Gerrard is right — and the signs point strongly in that direction — Arteta is preparing a decisive move on the left flank. Martinelli and Trossard have given everything, but the Premier League has been put on notice: a new, explosive left-sided forward is coming to the Emirates, and this isn’t just another incremental signing.
This is a statement. This is a robbery in broad daylight.
Arsenal are not just chasing the title — they are coming for dominance. And the next chapter of their evolution is about to begin with a blockbuster signing that could change everything.