Arsène Wenger has reportedly stepped back into the Arsenal conversation with timely and pointed advice for Mikel Arteta ahead of Thursday’s blockbuster clash against Liverpool, urging the current manager to start both Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard in what is shaping up to be one of the most decisive fixtures of the season.
With the title race tightening and little margin for error, Wenger’s message is understood to be clear: this is not a game for caution, rotation, or reputation, but one for courage, intelligence, and players who can decide matches in moments.
According to those close to the situation, Wenger believes Liverpool’s aggressive high line and intense pressing can be exposed by players who thrive in tight spaces and are comfortable receiving the ball between the lines. In his view, Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard perfectly fit that profile. Wenger, who built his Arsenal legacy on technical excellence and attacking freedom, is said to admire how Eze glides past opponents with minimal touches and how Trossard consistently finds space in dangerous areas when defenders lose concentration for even a second.
The former Arsenal boss is understood to be particularly impressed with Eze’s recent influence whenever he has been trusted from the start. Wenger reportedly feels that Eze’s calmness on the ball, ability to draw fouls, and eye for a killer pass could disrupt Liverpool’s midfield structure, especially against a side that likes to press high and leave pockets of space behind. In a match that could swing on one decisive moment, Wenger believes Eze has the personality and quality to impose himself rather than be eased into the game from the bench.
Leandro Trossard’s inclusion is seen as equally crucial. Wenger has long valued players who combine intelligence with ruthless end product, and Trossard fits that mould perfectly. Whether drifting in from the left, operating between the lines, or arriving late in the box, Trossard has developed a reputation for changing games when the pressure is highest. Wenger is said to feel that benching such a player in a fixture of this magnitude would be a mistake, especially against Liverpool, a team he believes Trossard’s movement and composure could seriously trouble.
There is also a tactical element to Wenger’s advice. Liverpool’s full-backs are known for pushing high up the pitch, and Wenger reportedly believes that starting both Eze and Trossard would allow Arsenal to exploit the spaces left behind. With Eze capable of carrying the ball through midfield and Trossard making clever diagonal runs, Arsenal could force Liverpool’s defenders into uncomfortable decisions, stretching the game and creating openings for others to benefit.
The advice carries extra weight given Wenger’s deep understanding of both Arsenal and high-stakes encounters against Liverpool. Over the years, he learned the hard way that sitting back or playing not to lose often invites pressure against elite opponents. Those close to Wenger say he sees this match as one Arsenal must try to control with the ball, not simply survive, and that starting Eze and Trossard sends a strong message of intent from the first whistle.
For Arteta, the decision will not be straightforward. He has a wealth of attacking options and a system built on structure and discipline. However, Wenger’s belief is that structure alone will not be enough on Thursday night. Moments of individual brilliance, unpredictability, and bravery will be required, and that is where Eze and Trossard come in.
As the countdown to kick-off continues, the spotlight is firmly on Arteta’s team selection. If Wenger’s advice is heeded and both Eze and Trossard are named in the starting XI, it will be seen as a bold statement that Arsenal are ready to take the game to Liverpool rather than react to them. And if it pays off, it may once again underline why Arsène Wenger’s voice still resonates so strongly at the Emirates, even years after his departure.