Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard has admitted that he wants to make it ‘difficult’ for manager Mikel Arteta after enjoying a terrific run of form at Emirates Stadium of late.
The 28-year-old has often been resigned to a backup role in north London this season. But a chance to impress arrived for Trossard following the injury problems Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah carried. Arteta has been without Arsenal’s sole recognised strikers in recent games.
A hamstring injury kept Jesus out of the Gunners’ three Premier League matches prior to the international break. While Nketiah needed treatment at London Colney after an ankle injury. It stopped him from facing Sevilla in the Champions League but he returned against Burnley.
Trossard has been Arteta’s all-purpose solution at Arsenal
Arteta turned to Trossard to solve Arsenal’s striker woes against Sevilla and Burnley and they reaped the gains. The 29-cap Belgian broke the deadlock at Emirates Stadium in the UEFA tie. Bukayo Saka teed Trossard up for a tap-in and to get his second goal Europe in this term.
Trossard then took his midweek momentum in their meeting with Burnley and scored once. The natural winger showed bravery to break the deadlock again with a back-post header. He then found William Saliba at a corner to restore the Gunners’ lead en route to a 3-1 victory.
The Burnley affair moved Trossard onto six goals and two assists through 14 appearances in all competitions with Arsenal this season. He has scored half of that haul in Premier League games alongside an assist. The Belgian’s previous goals came against Everton and Chelsea.
Yet starting against Burnley only moved Trossard onto three top-flight starts so far this term. Five of his eight Premier League appearances in 2023/24 have been from Arteta’s bench. He has made additional starts in the Carabao Cup (one) and Champions League (three), though.
Trossard opens up on his expectations to start for Arsenal
Now, Trossard believes he has shown Arteta enough to merit a sustained run in the Arsenal line-up. The Gunners return to action at Brentford on November 25. Nketiah should also be available to face the Bees. But Jesus is only aiming to return from his injury come December.
“I am very satisfied with my performance at Arsenal,” Trossard told HLN. “We are doing well and I am happy that I can contribute to that… I don’t think anything needs to improve. I am doing well and can’t do more than make it as difficult as possible for the coach.”
While Trossard wants to make it ‘difficult’ for Arteta to leave him out of the Arsenal side, the winger also spoke highly about how much he has learnt since moving to Emirates Stadium in January. He has also had to learn a new brand of football from how Brighton often operated.
“Under Arteta, I have made the most progress in terms of watching football,” he continued. “The playing style is very different from Brighton. The way we play football is fantastic. I have learned a lot tactically.”
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