Leandro Trossard has been steadily impressing since joining Arsenal, and his clutch performances have kept the team firmly in the title race.
There are a few transfers that shine beyond everyone’s expectations, and Leandro Trossard has been that since his arrival in the January transfer window of 2023. The Belgian came in with a bit of a worrying reputation as a troublemaker due to his relationship with Brighton & Hove Albion and Roberto De Zerbi in the final weeks as a Seagulls star. But he has been anything but that at Arseenal.
Trossard reeks of a player who desperately needed to be part of a big side in his career, and Mikel Arteta was on hand to give him that ample opportunity. He has not been that troublemaker many expected him to be, and instead, he has more than proven his worth for the £21 million the Gunners paid to take him away from Brighton.
44.7% of Leandro Trossard's Premier League goals have come against 'Big Six' opposition:
⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽ vs. Liverpool
⚽⚽⚽⚽ vs. Chelsea
⚽⚽ vs. Tottenham
⚽⚽ vs. Man Utd
⚽⚽ vs. Man City
⚽ vs. ArsenalHis goal against Manchester United also means he has now scored away… pic.twitter.com/64aJURAPD0
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 12, 2024
It is an exciting transfer on many counts, considering how important his goals have proved this season for the Gunners in the title race. Moreover, he is that clutch player Arteta has been missing for a long time, and the club in general, with Alexis Sanchez probably the one that we can remember of in this specific category.
We could also put Emile Smith Rowe during that fabulous 2021/22 season or Aaron Ramsey in 2013/14. However, Trossard is different from those, as he had the earn the right to be in this starting lineup, and it has come in good time as it also showed Arteta’s immaculate management of his players this season.
Trossard has also come up with important goals during the season, with some memorable ones against Everton, Liverpool and then now against Manchester United. These are typically worth eight points for Arsenal, which in the context of the title race is enormous for the Gunners.
Non-penalty goals this PL season:
12 — Leandro Trossard
12 — Cole Palmer pic.twitter.com/wkxsc220kb— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) May 12, 2024
In any case, he has been a different player, either with his impact off the bench or of late as a starter. To put it into context, Bukayo Saka used to get Arsenal going this season, especially in those many games that they went rampant on teams. Now, in recent weeks, Trossard has been that star to get the team in games, and that has been immense for Arteta in the title race,
That is also the reason he has been starting games ahead of Gabriel Martinelli: Arteta probably recognised this quality about the Belgian and made full use of it. Is he guaranteed to start the next campaign as a starter? There are doubts, but in this role, it is probably best for Arsenal fans to enjoy this brilliant run, with a game remaining in the season and a rather important one.
Trossard has been immense
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have been taking all the plaudits for Arsenal’s performance this season. Lately, Kai Havertz has joined the bandwagon. But Trossard has been silently immense for them, getting those clutch goals in crucial games.
Leandro Trossard has been the most clutch Arsenal player in the history of Arsenal.
No Arsenal fan will pass without liking this because of his contributions this season❤️ pic.twitter.com/yx9P7ui7La
— RISS (@afc_RISS) May 13, 2024
With each passing week and now into the final game of the season, Trossard’s contributions have directly led to Arsenal gaining 10-11 points, which might need some contextualising. For instance, his clear-cut winners against Everton and Manchester United are worth six points, while the same could be said about his goal against Wolves, where Martin Odegaard did add a late second.
There are other instances, such as the equaliser against Chelsea or the one against Porto and Bayern Munich. The one with Porto potentially earned Arsenal a place in the quarterfinals and millions in prize money. He also has 12 non-penalty goals in the season, which is more than Saka Havertz or even Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, if that’s put into context.
For the £21 million or so that Arsenal paid, the investment has already paid off and is making profits. The Gunners have reaped the rewards of intelligent thinking in the transfer market as they moved away from the race to sign expensive players to bring someone with this level of quantity to the club.
Trossard is a true big-game player
Beyond the goals mentioned above, there have been other instances where he has come up with clutch moments. Arsenal fans did see glimpses of his quality in the second half of last season when he was only coming into the side, and now, this term, he has shown the whole picture.
Down to the wire! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZP8SivdJ7i
— Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) May 12, 2024
Trossard started the season with a crucial late equaliser against Manchester City, with the Community Shield tie then going into penalties and Arsenal nicking it from there. The game also had enormous significance to the season, as the Gunners have not lost to Pep Guardiola’s side since.
He also scored a terrific goal against Liverpool in the Emirates. The scores were 2-1 in favour of the Gunners, and the Reds were a man short. But there was still immense pressure to get another strike, and the Belgian international did it so in style.
These are the pressure-relieving stars that every significant club needs, who silently do their work in the background without creating much fuss about their playing minutes or starring roles. Arsenal truly deserve a player like this in such a pressured season, and they will likely see a better version next term.
