It was always going to be the way. Arsenal are Premier League champions now and the team has to evolve. It’s time for Mikel Arteta to move on from some key personnel.
The first casualty of the Gunners’ new squad building is set to be Leandro Trossard.
The Belgian has been a remarkably good signing from Brighton and with his nation’s exit from the World Cup now confirmed, he is all set to sign for Besiktas.
Trossard is flying to Turkey this week to undergo a medical and will officially sign on the dotted line after the two clubs agreed a £17m fee.
Trossard’s legacy at Arsenal
The date is 10th May 2026. Arsenal are struggling to find a way through a West Ham side fighting for their lives to stay in the Premier League.
At the same time, Mikel Arteta’s men were fighting for the title but their chances of lifting the trophy were falling by the wayside as they failed to find a way past the Irons.
That was, however, until that man Trossard popped up as he so often did in Arsenal colours. Martin Odegaard did brilliantly inside the Hammers’ penalty area before laying the ball on a plate for the Belgium to fire home.
That will go down as his final goal for the Gunners and it rather typifies the winger’s time at the Emirates Stadium. It was a winning goal, a precious goal that all but secured the title for his team.
Trossard has always been the go-to man since he signed from Brighton. Replacing him will be difficult.
After all, the forward’s legacy in north London will be a vibrant one. He will forever be remembered in these parts as one of the most clutch players in the club’s history.
Time and time again it was Trossard who popped up when his teammates and supporters needed him most. Since joining Arsenal in January 2023, only two players – Gabriel (82%) and Mikel Merino (91%) – have contributed to a higher percentage of game state changing goals than the diminutive Belgium.
|
Game-changing goals at Arsenal since Jan 2023 (PL only) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Overall goals |
Game-changing goals |
|
1. Merino |
11 |
10 |
|
2. Gabriel |
11 |
9 |
|
3. Trossard |
27 |
17 |
|
4. Jesus |
16 |
9 |
|
5. Odegaard |
19 |
10 |
He will depart London with 36 goals and 34 assists to his name in 174 appearances. 27 of those goals came in the Premier League. 17 of his league strikes (63%) were opening goals, equalisers or winners.
How Arsenal can replace Trossard
Arsenal simply have to sign a replacement this summer and it is widely expected that Andrea Berta and Co will actually sign two new wingers.
Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis looks poised to make the switch while Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola are the big name and big money targets that are making fans excited.
Yet, perhaps there is already an internal solution lying in wait. Eberechi Eze is the man, but hear us out, we know what you’ll be thinking here.
Signed from Crystal Palace a year ago, it is safe to say that the England international did not have the most vibrant of debut years with Arsenal.
Eze scored ten goals last term, five of which came in two games with Tottenham. Those were iconic moments but beyond that, there was not an awful lot to shout about.
The forward particularly struggled out on the flanks, scoring once and supplying one assist from his 11 appearances on the left. During a clash with Aston Villa, a game he started from the left, he was hooked at half-time after failing to track Matty Cash in the build-up to the opener.
After that, he didn’t start another game for two months. He was accused by Arsenal writer Connor Humm for strolling “around like [Mesut] Ozil.” It all looked too casual, too nonchalant.
However, Eze is now up to speed in an Arsenal shirt. He looked more comfortable with the system come the conclusion of the season, scoring a peach against Newcastle that helped them to the title.
He also has the qualities to star from the left. He’s a really similar profile to Rogers. During his final season with Palace, Eze ranked among the best 13% of positionally similar players in the Premier League for successful dribbles with 2.32 per 90 minutes. He’s a fabulous carrier of the ball and like Trossard, is wonderful in tight spaces.
With a similar player in Rogers potentially earmarked to play on the left, it’s well worth trialing Eze out in that position during pre-season.
He’s got the ball striking ability that Trossard has, he’s immensely creative and he’s a huge threat to any full-back. This is a player who netted 14 and assisted 11 during his final campaign at Selhurst Park.
If Arteta can find a way to give him a bit more freedom out wide, he could well be the perfect replacement for their departing Belgium star.
