Leandro Trossard has indicated he expects to remain at Arsenal next season.
The Belgian has revealed that an honest conversation with Mikel Arteta last summer was key to his decision to stay.
Trossard came close to leaving the club during last summer’s window, with a move to Turkey heavily touted before he signed a new contract on improved financial terms.
But Trossard is glad he stayed, and made clear he has no intention of going anywhere just yet.
“At the moment, yes,” Trossard told Metro when asked if he would remain at Arsenal. “I still have one year on my contract, and hopefully, first we win the Champions League. Then I think next season can be another very nice season.”
If Leandro Trossard isn’t Arsenal’s most clutch player, who is? 🤔
He also shed light on what convinced him to commit his future to the club. “In the summer, I had a very good conversation with the coach.
“He also helped me in those negotiations and showed me that he really saw me as an important piece.
“I asked him honest questions and he was very honest in his answers to me. I am someone who, if you give me confidence, can give more.
“If you show me that I can be an important player for you, then I can give more. I feel that on the pitch.”
On the prospect of increased competition in attack this summer, Trossard was equally assured. “Competition is always there. I am not afraid of that. They can bring in whoever they want. I know that I can hold my own.”
Leandro Trossard’s decision to stay has been vindicated
Trossard’s surge in form during the run-in has proven Arteta right to insist it was ‘forbidden’ for the Belgian to leave last summer.
He scored the crucial winner in the 1-0 away win at West Ham which put Arsenal on course for the title.
It is worth remembering how Trossard came to Arsenal in the first place.
Chelsea’s hijacking of Arsenal’s move for Mykhailo Mudryk forced the Gunners to look for a cheaper alternative, and the £27 million they spent on Trossard from Brighton has proven to be one of the shrewdest pieces of business of Arteta’s tenure.
Mudryk, meanwhile, has been a disaster at Stamford Bridge.
Trossard has made 49 appearances this season, and will be hoping to make that 50 should he feature in the Champions League final in Budapest.
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