Three Things We Learned after Arsenal's Easter Sunday Stroll in Suffolk

Here's Ian Mills with his regular series Three Things We Learned after Arsenal eased past Ipswich 4-0 as Crystal Palace loom at the Emirates 

An Easter Sunday stroll in Suffolk completes a great week for the Gunners, writes Ian Mills.

Here are three things that stood out for Ian-

1 - Trossard gives a timely reminder of his finishing instincts

– with doubts still circulating as to whether our talented Belgian attacker will sign the contract extension allegedly on offer to him, he chose this game to demonstrate his eye for goal that that is likely to see him given the nod to start as the false nine in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final versus PSG.

As dress rehearsals go, this was an impressive one. He twisted despite losing his balance, to turn Martin Odegaard’s fortunate assist to guide the ball through his marker’s legs and beyond Alex Palmer to open the scoring. His second arrived as he fizzed a shot across Palmer to make it 3-0. I have said previously that I believe Trossard is the best finisher at the club and despite turning 30 let’s hope there are plenty more opportunities to give a rendition of ‘Trossard again, ole ole’.    

2 - Merino’s magic touch shows further evidence of his growing influence

– Mikel Merino’s clever flick to tee up Gabi Martinelli for our second goal, was another example of how accomplished he has become in his role as an ‘emergency forward’ even if here he played in his more familiar role in midfield.

He now has eight goals and fives assists and carries a genuine goal threat.

His injury sustained in his first training session with his new teammates undoubtably set him back several weeks however now fully fit and firing he is showing what a valuable asset he is to the team and just why Mikel Arteta pushed for his signing last summer.

3 - Martinelli makes it two in a week

– ever since Jurgen Klopp waxed lyrical about Gabi prior to a clash with his Liverpool side, the hype has been around how our Brazilian winger would finally ‘explode’ and realise his undoubted potential.

Like all wide players he has spells of inconsistency and also like many in his position, he suffers from dips in confidence.

Yet, after a superb winner at the Bernabeu he gave a good display here adding a simple second after a tremendous team move.

His pace, power and direct running are extremely hard to contain at his very best and if he can continue his recent form, we could yet be in for a magnificent end to this campaign.