Mikel Arteta expects Leandro Trossard to hit the ground running at Arsenal and says the Belgium international has a level of versatility that will be very useful in the second half of the season.
The 28-year-old Belgium international moves to the Emirates from Brighton in a deal reported to be worth £21 million plus add-ons and is expected to take a place on the bench when Manchester United visit the Emirates on Sunday.
Trossard’s arrival ahead of a crucial Premier League encounter and with an FA Cup trip to Manchester City on the horizon is no coincidence. The Gunners have wanted to complete their transfer business early this month with injuries leaving the squad threadbare in the attack.
“In the summer we were looking for a player in that position and we weren’t able to do it,” Arteta told his weekly press conference.
“It’s something that the squad needed and with the injuries to Gabi [Jesus] and Reiss [Nelson] especially, we are really short in the frontline. We needed some reinforcements and we found in Leo, a player that fits everything that we want.
“We are really happy to have him. He’s a player that we have been following for a while now. The opportunity came, we have the necessity to have a player in the frontline that is versatile enough to play in different positions, he knows the league, he’s experienced and I think he can have an immediate impact in the team.”
While Trossard is more likely to make his debut from the bench this weekend, it’s possible he could get a start against City next Friday what with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli playing a lot of football recently.
“It’s very important [that he can hit the ground running], we had to think short-term but as well medium and long-term and I think he gives us all that,” added Arteta.
“He’s a very intelligent player, when you look at his career, what he’s done in the last few years, he’s a player that fits our way of playing, that’s for sure. We are happy to have him.”
Having been an important player for Brighton over the last three years, Trossard’s departure from the south coast club was somewhat overshadowed by a falling out with coach Roberto De Zerbi earlier in the month.
Arteta dismissed concerns about the player’s character and said his assistant, Albert Stuivenberg, had only good words to say about a player who he knew from his time managing Genk in the Jupiler Pro League.
“We talk to everybody that’s connected about players that we want to recruit because character is something crucial, but as well to understand how they are, how they behave, will they accept the role that they have at the club with us. Then personal conversations are very, very important as well,” said Arteta.
“Albert gave me a really, really good reference. But not just now, for a few years already.”
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For more on what Leandro Trossard will bring to Arsenal, check out Phil Costa’s excellent player profile
Adding depth to add that premier league trophy.
#herewecome
COYG
He physically looks a mix of Zinchenko and Xhaka.
Leandro Xhanchenko
Graleksandro Zinxhakard
Gotta say I prefer that one!
We still need DM and striker. I hope Edu works silently and efficiently as well before it pop up in Fabrizio’s Here We Go!
That would make him a Tross-dresser, surely?
Good addition but we need back up to Eddie. More than another central defender.
Good addition but we need a back up for Eddie. More than another central defender.
We need a back up for Eddie. Trossard will give Saka and Martinelli some cover but glaring hole backing up Eddie. Don’t know why that’s not prioritized over another central defender…
I’m thinking Brian Marwood here….
Great that he comes in as a player that knows the PL, can play a range of positions and seems very motivated. Lots of cpmpetition in the positions he playes (he prefers behind the striker so may have to compete with our captain. But fortunately is not restricted to there.
Hope he does well.
Trossard has been helping Arsenal’s title race all season.
Scored v Chelsea
Scored v mancity
And a hat trick v Liverpool…
Welcome to Arsenal Leandro Trossard. Wishing you all the best. North London and London is RED
The most vital one would be the one against City if it wasn’t a near useless consolation in a 1-3 reverse.
The other two clubs have troubles coming at them from all sides, especially injuries and loss of form.
Mate – just run along and kick the cat, why don’t you?
It’s,like we’ve signed him for the whole season
LAOS
No, not the place. Like An Old Signing.
I just watched one of those online compilation… must admit I’m positively impressed as I’ve never followed neither Brighton nor Genk, and only saw him play against us over the past years.
This guy might soon get his own chant “à la Cazorla”….. Ooooohhhhh Leandroooo Troooossaaaard 🥳
That’s the big benefit of getting an experienced PL player. It may take a little while to settle in to the way the Arsenal team plays but it’s not the big learning experience of an unknown league for him.
Watching his videos from Brighton (and Belgium) you can see how seamlessly his style of play will fit, and that extensive (and successful) EPL experience is prefect. As I said yesterday, a Jota style signing; that was a good one from Liverpool as he basically proved even more consistent than an aging Firmino.
Agree – he has a very, very useful knack of scoring unexpected goals against big opponents. Seriously handy at this point in the season.
Amazing that Arteta name checked Riess. I would love it if he can make more appearances for us.
I can’t help but think this signing is the end of Nelson’s hopes.
There are games for Reiss if he can stay injury free. A big if but I’m hoping he can come good.
Leandro plays on the left and Reiss more on the right? Maybe he’ll get a 1 year extension and a last chance to break through next season
He’s had so many years of chances and he’s still inconsistent. I think Reiss has had enough chances and I’d be surprised if he’s here next season.
Utd in his score list is missing.
Sunday time to fix this!
Bring him on in the 75th minute when we are up 3-0 and he will bang in number 4.
Showing my age here as it was 25 years ago but I just about remember Freddie Ljungberg coming off the bench on his debut and scoring against Man United to make it 3-0.
September 1998. Remember it well. A lovely looping half volley.
“…..just about”.
Yeah I remember the moment but not the actual goal, will have to look for it on YouTube.
It was a cheeky kind of lob I recall
25 years ago. I feel old.
Quarter of the price of an untested Mudryk, for a player with proven PL fitness, strength and experience!
Bargain!
Trossard might be better for us in the short run, but Mudryk was always for the long haul.
I don’t want to compare them; it is what it is. We have Trossard, and hopefully, Arteta is going to make the best out of the transfer, especially in the next 20 league games. If he helps us win the league, it’s worth the outlay already; after all, Chelsea is paying close to that for Joao Felix’ loan deal and all they may get out of it is a Conference League appearance!
We already have a highly talented, technical, light weight wide player, with bags of potential, who we hope will deal with the physical side of the PL and come good in the future – Fabio Vieira. He cost 40 mil or there about. I never understood why Edu et al were so keen to add Mud for double that price, when they are effectively the same profile of player. Also worth noting Mud is 22, he’s not a Ronaldo, Anelka, Rooney once in a generation talent playing at the top level in his teens… Not to say the Mud couldnt/wouldnt… Read more »
Chelsk will run Mudryk into the ground with their new striker curse and we’ll pick him next Jan for 45m
I noticed him last year and he had a great season so far with 7 goals, same as the Ukrainian Chav, in a tougher league. He reminds me of David Villa.
An excellent piece of business.
Tross is an established PL player who can hit the ground running and do a job for us. This is a far more effective signing than some inexperienced Ukrainian kid who could have taken a season to bed in. A player like Trossard can play big part in our challenge for the title. Hopefully, he’ll nick a few crucial goals in the big games to come. The one worry is about his attitude. I just hope he’s not a d***head.
Now buy a central midfielder please. Edu.
Eduardo Camavinga incoming. What the fekk has happened today? Camavinga is a dream signing.
I thought this was a joke earlier…but wow. We’re genuinely trying to get this done on loan?
Ode Mk II
Sadly it isn’t going to happen as Real are not prepared to let him go.
Let him be a duck head next season but for this one just a few goals assists will do 🙏
Albert had him at Genk and knows him well – says he’s a diamond.
Everyone is looking at this guy’s age and the team he’s from, but I’m here thinking… If he can teach Martinelli, Øde, Saka, Smith, and Nketia how to strike the ball with power like he effortlessly does, then that’s 21 million well spent.
Can’t count the number of times those mentioned above have literally rolled the ball at the goalie after a really good move.
Look forward to seeing him perform for us.
Troodat. The thing about him is that he’s a finisher… lethal with both feet. That can only help our kids on the training ground – and if he nicks 4 or 5 NB goals between now and May, that’s a very smart 21m spent!
well right now this is a much better signing than mudryk for £90m. we will see what the future holds though…
Let the cannons roar Lean and Clean!!!
Wasn’t sure on this yesterday but now curiously excited to see him play for us. Here’s to a Trossard winner on Sunday!
Agree. I wasn’t too excited but as a short term solution he makes perfect sense.
Not too remote a possibiity… I have a sneaky feeling about this signing, same one I had with Ode.
Unlike for Willian, this will be a step up for the player, and unlike Pepe, he is tried and recently tested in this league.
I have to admit that when I saw Trossard played last season, I thought he was a pretty good player. Although it is ego busting that Mudryk%$% decided to sign for Chelsea, I think we will not regret Trossard signing. Trust the process.
I don’t think we would have bought him if we’d gotten Mudryk, it feels like we had this one on the back burner in case the Mudryk thing didn’t pan out and it that’s the case all the credit to Edu and the club for being so shrewd in their transfer strategy and understanding how these things can go. It feels like too often in the past we had all our eggs in one basket and then ended the transfer window with egg on our face (and none in the basket)
I’ve wanted us to go in for him since Mik became manager… have a sneaky gut feel that he will be as smart a piece of biz as Martin The Viking.
blimey if it’s even a third as smart as getting Marty O I’d be over the moon