Arsenal leadership duo Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta did not wait long to lament the missed opportunity that was Ukrainian starlet Mykhailo Mudryk this January after narrowly missing out on the 21-year-old left-winger, with the Gunners officially unveiling Belgian international Leandro Trossard earlier today in yet another example of the club’s ability to quickly transition during the transfer window.
The £27m move for the 28-year-old versatile forward kicked-off Arsenal’s January spending in earnest, but it was still greeted with some degree of apprehension from certain sections of the fanbase given Trossard’s age profile in comparison to Mudryk, with the Maasmechelen native hardly viewed with the same initial excitement.
Since then, however, many club supporters across social media have quickly warmed to the idea of having the former KRC Genk standout on the club’s books, with Edu himself speaking fondly of the completed deal as evidence that Arsenal remains committed to its ideologies surrounding the on-going project at the Emirates Stadium.
In quotes offered by football insider Fabrizio Romano, Edu’s positive outlook on the move is clear when he stated “We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Leandro Trossard. We have a clear plan”
Arteta offered further thoughts on the matter as well from a tactical perspective; “He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence, and a great deal of experience in the Premier League and at international level.”
Capable of playing anywhere across the front three and having already spent four years in country during an influential stint with Brighton, Trossard’s profile is a near-perfect complement to the Gunners’ young forward line, highlighted by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah.
Trossard may not have shaken the footballing world in terms of a monumental fee in the same way that the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea shelled out massive figures for Antony and the aforementioned Mudryk, but Arsenal’s continued faith in making shrewd signings that have a clear benefit on the tactics board with a good chance of fitting into the existing jigsaw puzzle is precisely the reason why the club sits atop the Premier League table.
Having been registered on time and able to face Manchester United on Sunday, Trossard - who is already in training - may well have an immediate chance to repay Arteta and Edu for the faith they have placed in the Belgian as part of their successful process.
