Thierry Henry has compared Leandro Trossard to Freddie Ljungberg after working with the Arsenal winger while he was Belgium’s assistant manager. Trossard made his Belgium international debut in September 2020, and a year later Henry returned to the Red Devils’ backroom structure, once again assisting then-manager Roberto Martinez.
Trossard moved to England in the summer of 2019 after joining Brighton from Genk. And after excelling on the south coast, the 31-year-old secured a move to Arsenal as the Gunners paid £21 million to take him to the Emirates Stadium. He has scored 34 goals and provided 28 assists in 143 games for the North London Giants, but is often forced to share game time with fellow left winger Gabriel Martinelli.
Henry spoke about Trossard in an interview with Betway. And when asked if he was impressed by the former Brighton man, he explained: “Yes and no, because I know what he can do.”
“I watched him in training with the national team and I watched him when he was at Genk. He had a great season and decided to move to Brighton.”
“I wasn’t surprised because I knew it was there. When I was in Belgium, Eden Hazard was in front of him, so it was difficult for him to play sometimes. I think it was just difficult.”
“If you look at the goals he scored in Belgium, if he sees the goal and lets him take a shot, that’s it. Being able to score goals is something he’s worked on early on and he can do it with either foot.”
“I like the way he handles the ball and since his time at Brighton he has added that intensity that has allowed him to play in the Premier League. With Bukayo (Saka), Arsenal are smart enough to understand that everything is coming from the right, so sometimes you have to be at the back post to finish.”
“He’s not the type of winger who stays high and wide when everything is happening at the other end.”
And Henry added: “He comes in and remembers the goal that Freddie Ljungberg scored.
“In my day, we would build up on the left and Freddie would run inside and finish, or tap in at the back post and finish. Trossard understands what he needs to do for the team at the moment.”
