In the final week of the summer transfer window, Arsenal received late inquiries for attacker Leandro Trossard. The Belgian recently signed a new contract with the Gunners and, although his contract was not officially extended, he was given a pay rise to reflect his importance within Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Roma were interested, with the Italian club keen to see if the 30-year-old, who signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace for £67.5m, would be available. Conversations did not progress much and there was therefore little speculation in the media about Roma’s interest in the versatile forward.
Since Arsenal rejected an offer for Trossard from Saudi Professional League side Al Ittihad in September 2024, the Belgian international has been frequently linked as a player who could leave the Emirates Stadium for a new challenge.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce showed interest in him during the summer, and several clubs in the Saudi Professional League were keeping an eye on his situation, but Arteta never actively considered letting him go.
The Spaniard’s faith in the former Brighton forward is not only reflected in the terms of his new contract, but it has also been reflected in his minutes this season, having started each of Arsenal’s last seven Premier League games.
While Gabriel Martinelli remains sidelined with a groin problem, Trossard has established himself as the Gunners’ preferred left-sided forward and, given his recent performances, he will be difficult to dislodge.
Trossard is considered a level-headed professional who is not influenced by outside pressures. Instead, he cherishes his supporting role as one of Arsenal’s understated stars as they challenge for the title.
After Trossard scored from the bench in a 2-0 win against Aston Villa in August 2024, Arteta said: “Even when you’re not selected, there’s a certain way to react.
“Leo is upset, but he shows his good side on the pitch even though he is upset. He doesn’t get upset and he doesn’t react poorly when he comes in. That’s a big quality. And when you put him in the starting lineup, he does exactly the same thing.”
It has been a difficult summer for Trossard, who finished runners-up in the Premier League for the third consecutive year.
Long-time international and coach Josie Comhair, who has coached the Belgian throughout his career, has been forced to end their working relationship due to health concerns. The 30-year-old then joined German agency DH Sports and Entertainment.
A large section of Arsenal’s supporters were also starting to wonder if it was time to say goodbye to Trossard, but he has consistently silenced his critics and has already scored four goals and provided four assists in all competitions this season, including a sensational goal against Sunderland on Saturday.
He also scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against Fulham last month, and his only two goals in the Premier League helped Arsenal claim a valuable three points in the top flight.
Players like Trossard, who was signed from Brighton in January 2023 for a whopping £21m, are invaluable in the intense title race, especially when competing for European and domestic cup results.
By the end of the season, the lethal forward’s retention, a joint decision of Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta, could become one of the most important parts of their transfer business. The secret transfer strategy rejected by Arsenal is already worth three Premier League points.
