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Thursday, March 28, 2024

No Mudryk, no problem for Arsenal as Leandro Trossard can prove why he’s the better January signing

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eandro Trossard did not arrive at Arsenal with the fanfare that would have greeted the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk, but the Gunners may have ended with a deal that suits them better — at least in the short term.

Mudryk’s potential is clearly sky high, and to miss out to Chelsea on signing the Ukrainian after a protracted, public courtship left some red faces in north London, especially after the lightning-quick winger made an eye-catching debut when sent on for the last 40 minutes at Liverpool.

But Trossard’s 10-minute cameo against Manchester United was the more impactful, and showed why there should be excitement around his signing, as he came off the bench to have a hand in the winning goal of the 3-2 victory.

The Belgian is expected to start at the Etihad tonight as Arsenal face Manchester City in the FA Cup, and such a high-profile stage provides him with the perfect opportunity to prove his worth.

Mudryk was Arsenal’s No1 target during this transfer window but, as history has shown us, pivoting to another option could work well for the club.

That was certainly the case in the summer, when Arsenal swooped for Oleksandr Zinchenko after being priced out of a move for Lisandro Martinez. Similarly, the Gunners chased Dusan Vlahovic before signing Gabriel Jesus and were admirers of Brentford goalkeeper David Raya before opting to bring in Aaron Ramsdale.

Mudryk’s potential is huge, but by signing Trossard the Gunners have brought in a player who can hit the ground running.

The 28-year-old is enjoying his best season ever in the Premier League, scoring seven goals in 17 games, and there will be no adaptation period for him. Crucially, Trossard offers versatility, as he is able to play anywhere across the forward line. His preferred role is as a No10, but for Brighton this season he impressed as a false nine at times.

That makes him the ideal impact player for Arteta; a Swiss Army knife of a substitute who can come on in a number of positions to change a game.

“I think I’m good in one v ones. I’m composed in the box, so if I get chances, I can finish them off,” said Trossard. “I like to be in the pocket behind the striker. On the wings, I can explore. I’m great in tight spaces. I’m quite experienced as well, so I hope I can bring that to the team.”

At the age of 28, Trossard certainly is “experienced”, and he is out of sync with Arsenal’s recruitment model.

The club has specifically targeted young players with room to grow. The signing of 22-year-old Polish centre-back Jakub Kiwior, who joined on Monday for £21million and could make his debut tonight, is a prime example of that.

Trossard, in contrast, is very much a transfer for the here and now. His arrival underlines the belief Arsenal feel they can achieve something special this season, with Arteta’s side five points clear of City at the top of the Premier League and in the last 16 of the Europa League, too.

The FA Cup is a possible trophy as well, particularly as nine Premier League teams have already been knocked out and Arsenal can eliminate City.

Victory tonight would cause Gunners fans to dream big, and that is what Trossard is doing.

“I want to create as many magic moments as possible,” he said. The Etihad would be a good place to start.

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