Why £86m star is Arsenal’s dream Trossard replacement

Christos Tzolis, oh how we were wrong about you. When the Greek signed for Arsenal in a £34m deal back in July, he did so without much fanfare.

After winning the Premier League, supporters expected a marquee arrival in attack. Links to Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers suggested they would get just that.

However, for now, Tzolis remains the only addition to the forward line and he’s lapped up his opportunity in pre-season.

Replacing Leandro Trossard, a fan favourite in these parts, would never be easy but it is so far so good for the former Club Brugge man.

He scored against Girona and then registered assists against Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund. His performance in the Community Shield was also exemplary, registering two assists.

All that said, the Gunners still feel light on the left flank after Trossard’s exit.

Why Arsenal need another winger after Trossard’s departure

Mr Clutch. That is what the fans call Trossard after his golden displays in the red and white of Arsenal.

One of the most underrated players in the club’s history, he is a firm fan favourite and his goal last term away at West Ham that cemented the title for the Gunners will go down in history.

However, at the age of 31, this was the right time to get let him go. The trouble is, despite Tzolis’ arrival, they are still lacking depth in that position.

Indeed, at the weekend, as Gabriel Martinelli was excluded from the Community Shield squad amid talk of a move away, Mikel Arteta only actually had one out and out left winger at his disposal.

Even if the Brazilian was in the squad for the game against Man City, they would have been lacking in quality. After all, Martinelli scored just once in the league last term. It was not good enough in the slightest.

Tzolis has been hugely impressive since joining and looks a cracking replacement for both Martinelli and Trossard but it remains to be seen if he can sustain that sort of form across the duration of the 2026/27 campaign.

Arsenal should still be craving that elite left winger. Unfortunately, they are running out of options now.

How Arsenal can strengthen on the left flank

Vinicius Junior would have been a captivating signing. Anyone Arsenal pursue now just feels like they won’t match up to the hype that would have surrounded that deal.

Alas, supporters will need to forget about him for now. Alternatively, they have been exploring a move for PSG’s Bradley Barcola but his price tag of over £140m will likely prove inhibitive.

Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is one option. Nico Williams of Athletic Club is also someone they have held a long-term interest in but a move does not look forthcoming in the closing weeks of the window.

They may well turn their attentions to Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz again. Arsenal looked at doing a deal earlier in the summer but he has since signed a new deal with the Italian giants.

They are still keen on him, however, with the Athletic revealing this week that the Premier League winners hold a long-term interest in him and Julian Alvarez and are waiting to see if the ‘market renders’ either of them availabile.

Yildiz has previously had an £86m price tag attached to his shoulders and it’s a price worth paying for a player who could prove to be the perfect Trossard and Martinelli replacement this summer.

A look at the data tells us that in pretty much every important area for a wide forward last season, Yildiz ranked higher than Trossard.

The duo actually have something of a similar playstyle. Like the Belgian, Yildiz loves to drift inside, he loves getting at his man. He’s also fabulous in tight spaces, just like Arsenal’s former 19.

Described as a “frightening talent” by Turkish football expert Emre Sarigul, the Juventus superstar is something of an elite-level Trossard.

There may well be stylistic similiarites between the two but the Turk is far more efficient with his actions, particularly when it comes to his dribbling ability and his progressive nature.

Last season, the 21-year-old ranked among the top 11% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles per 90 minutes and among the best 8% for progressive carries per 90. Combine that with his 11 goals and nine assists last term and you have one of the most menacing young attackers on the continent.

If Arsenal want a maverick, a game-changer on the left, then Yildiz is their man. Combined with Tzolis, their attack will improve signigicantly.