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Between the Bench and the Starting Lineup: Where is Trossard’s Future at Arsenal Heading?

Arsenal recently turned down a significant offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Club for Belgian forward Leandro Trossard, underlining the significant role the player has carved out at the Emirates. Since his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023, Trossard has been a pivotal figure for the “Gunners,” contributing 19 goals and 12 assists in 71 appearances. His influence in Mikel Arteta’s squad is undeniable.

Al-Ittihad’s proposal was a tempting one—a loan deal until the end of the season worth €5 million, coupled with a mandatory purchase clause next summer, ranging between €20 to €25 million. Yet, for Arsenal’s management, the decision to reject the offer was straightforward. Trossard’s value to the team, coupled with the challenge of finding an adequate replacement mid-season, made the offer easy to decline.

However, Trossard might have mixed feelings about this decision. Approaching his 30th birthday in December, the Belgian has been a key component of Arteta’s plans but hasn’t always been the first name on the team sheet. In his first full season with Arsenal, Trossard started only 18 of the 38 Premier League matches, making him the second most-utilized substitute after Eddie Nketiah.

Trossard has demonstrated his effectiveness off the bench—scoring six of his 14 league goals as a substitute. However, his hunger for a regular starting role is evident. After scoring as a substitute against Aston Villa last month, he expressed his desire, saying, “Every player wants to start games.”

Arteta, recognizing Trossard’s situation, praised his professionalism, saying, “Leo feels frustrated, but he channels that frustration into exceptional performances on the pitch. He never stops working hard, whether he’s starting or not, and that’s a quality that sets him apart. When we start him, he delivers the same high standards. He’s a role model for the team and for me.”

Trossard was given a starting opportunity against his former club Brighton, but his game was cut short in the 59th minute following Declan Rice’s red card, which allowed Brighton to equalize swiftly. With Rice now suspended, coupled with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino, and with three critical matches looming after the international break, the question arises: Where does Trossard fit into Arteta’s upcoming plans?

With a depleted midfield, Trossard might be deployed as a central forward—a position where he has previously excelled. Since the beginning of the year, Arsenal has seen their best performances with Kai Havertz leading the line. Havertz has netted two goals this season in that role and scored eight of his 13 league goals last season as a central striker. At times, Trossard and Havertz have formed a striking partnership, adding a new dimension to Arteta’s tactical approach.

With Gabriel Martinelli’s return and the new acquisition of Raheem Sterling, Arteta might revert to the Trossard-Havertz combination to compensate for Rice’s absence in the North London Derby against Tottenham.

Trossard is currently in better form than Martinelli, but with Sterling and Jesus back in the mix, he will need to put in standout performances to prove to Arteta that he deserves more starting opportunities this season.

If Trossard manages to secure more starting roles, he might view Arsenal’s rejection of the Saudi offer as a blessing in disguise. However, if he finds himself back as a super-sub, while tempting offers from abroad continue to flood in, Arsenal may need to reconsider his long-term future.

Arteta recently stressed that building a competitive squad is a long-term project, not something accomplished in just one or two seasons. Reflecting on the defensive progress since he took the charge in December 2019, Arteta underscored the importance of stability. With the transfer window closed, accepting Al-Ittihad’s offer would have been unwise, as replacing Trossard with someone of equal quality would have been nearly impossible.

The real question is: When might it make sense for Arsenal to consider such offers? In the coming months, Arsenal’s management will need to carefully evaluate Trossard’s future, taking into account his advancing age, his importance to the squad, and his satisfaction with his role.

For now, Trossard remains a vital component in Arteta’s machine, and how the manager utilizes his talents in the upcoming months could be crucial to Arsenal’s aspirations.

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Written by Ali Seif El-Din