For years, it was not uncommon for Arsenal's substitutes' bench to be filled by Under-21 players who would receive few first-team minutes.

In their last two games, manager Mikel Arteta has had quality-stacked benches despite key players being absent through injury.

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli may not be starters presently, but the pair had contributed to 49 and 81 Arsenal goals respectively before last week. They came on together against Nottingham Forest, and six seconds after play resumed Trossard assisted Martin Zubimendi's second goal of the day. Thirty-six seconds after coming on against Athletic Club on Tuesday, Martinelli put Arsenal ahead.

When substitutes make such an impact, sweeping statements can often follow. There may be an understandable desire to get those players into the starting lineup, but that may not always be the way to go.

Trossard, for example, has grown a reputation as a supersub for the number of times he has rescued Arsenal off the bench since signing two years ago.

If Martinelli was to develop that skillset more consistently, that could make Arsenal even more dangerous. The Brazil international has previous for this in big matches. Late on against Manchester City in October 2023, Arteta made four substitutes at once and they all combined for what proved to be the winner -- scored by Martinelli.

Since the start of the 2023-24 season, in the Premier League Arsenal rank seventh for goal involvements from substitutes (37), with Brighton & Hove Albion ranked first at 44. In the same period in the Champions League, they rank joint-third with seven. Atletico Madrid are first with 15.

On a season-by-season basis, the last two have shown a sharp increase in the number of goals Arsenal substitutes have combined for, and Tuesday's 2-0 win over Athletic Club accounted for another four as a substitute assisting another substitute counts as two goal involvements.

The quality in the squad could see that tally jump this season, while also providing some selection headaches. Last week, Arteta rested Declan Rice not just to give the England international a break after starting twice for England in the September internationals, but because he wanted to build on Mikel Merino's strong form for Spain.

He also spoke of the luxury of having different profiles to fit into the same positions, who could bring different qualities to his side when discussing Ethan Nwaneri and the injured Martin Odegaard. Add Cristhian Mosquera and Noni Madueke's stand-in performances for William Saliba and Bukayo Saka to the mix, and groups of supporters would be justified for having different variations of a starting lineup come the weekend.

With everybody fit, this may be how Arteta would choose to set up.

To his and the club's credit, they would be able to field a totally changed XI and maintain a level of quality with players who would have been considered starters just months ago.

Not everyone is fit for the weekend, though, so Arteta will have to blend from the above lineups.

In defence, the dilemma for Arteta will be whether he rewards Mosquera's impressive form with another start or brings Saliba back.

Mosquera, 21, has been exceptional since replacing Saliba after five minutes at Anfield, being both aggressive and patient when needed.

But reinstating Saliba may be the move to make against Manchester City. Mosquera has the attributes to potentially deal with Erling Haaland, but Saliba has the experience of doing it. Back on the bench in Spain, the rest of the week should give him time to gear up nicely to Sunday afternoon.

Club captain Martin Odegaard did not travel to Bilbao after suffering another shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest at the weekend. The one midfield change Arteta made in the Champions League was to bring Rice back into the starting lineup, with Merino kept in the side. The City game may call for something different.

Ethan Nwaneri has been growing in a more central midfield role game by game since the summer, and this could be a timely moment for Arteta to show him that trust from the start. He started three of Arsenal's five pre-season games in that position, and has played 52 and 72 minutes there against Leeds United and Forest.

As well as showing a better understanding of when and how to receive the ball in deeper areas, the spark he provides when driving forward may help Arsenal really take the game to City in a way they did not in the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool.

The yin and yang of Madueke and Eberechi Eze should still be useful from the start against City, with Trossard and Martinelli ready to make an impact if needed.

Considering this has been the first set of midweek games this season, the first two games could not have gone much better for Arteta. His team scored five goals, his starters were effective in the Premier League, and his substitutes did the job in the Champions League.

There will be more variation in the Spaniard's lineups as the weeks go by, which may not only give him unpredictability on the pitch, but on his teamsheets too.

Fantasy Premier League players may find that a tad annoying, but Arsenal have seen City enjoy that luxury for years now. To finally have it themselves could be a difference maker that they have been missing over the last three seasons of challenging for titles.

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