Leandro Trosssard can, in the words of Mikel Arteta, to be a “little groan” if he is in the Arsenal team.
Not that Arteta thinks. In fact, Trussard hunger to play is one of the reasons why Arteta loves him so much.
“He needs to be the most productive and when he’s not there, he’s not happy,” Arteta said. “But that’s what pushes him.
“This is where he gets on the field, he can have an effect because he has this motivation, this anger that says, ‘I’m going to show you. “I love it.
“Leo naturally is a bit of a moaner but I like that because he’s very competitive and you have training sessions, he’s always busy with the referee’s decision, because he wants to win. That’s what I love.”
Since he joined Brighton Arsenal in January 2023, Trosssard played a “Super Sub”.
The Belgian has scored 22 goals for Arsenal and nine of those have happened when he has come off the bench.
Last season, Trosssard obtained six goals as a replacement in all competitions, more than any other player in the five most sensible leagues in Europe.
That ability to have an effect on the bank is one of the greatest strengths of the 30, but perhaps that is why you have problems to nail an initial place.
Arteta places great value on his substitutes – renaming them ‘impactors’ – and Trossard is one of his best.
“He is a really intelligent character,” said Arteta. “Everyone needs to play, they need to play.
Leo Hass had many festivals in his position. That’s all. Increase the level. If you play at this level, you will play like someone else
Mikel Arteta
“He’s played and with us he’s played as a left winger, as an attacking midfielder, he’s played as a nine and he’s a player that I value a lot.
“We appreciate it a lot because he is very flexible and very competitive and is a great target risk for the team. I’m satisfied with him.
“Leo has demonstrated much more consistency in the more than 12 months, he deserved it. He had a lot of festival in his position. That’s all. Increase the level. If you play at this level, you will play as otherwise. »
Trosssard deserves to have many opportunities to play in the next month, since Arsenal begins with A Brentford.
It is the first of nine games for the Gunners in January, with all of those coming in the space of just 29 days.
An injury to the ischiotibial in Bukayo Saka left Arteta of attack characteristics and, therefore, Trosssard can wait many minutes.
He was delivered from the bank when Saka injured Crystal Palace on December 21, then six days later, when Arsenal welcomed Ipswich.
Trossard set up the only goal of that game, picking out Kai Havertz with a cross, and there is an opportunity for him to enjoy a run of starts on the left flank, with Gabriel Martinelli seemingly the one charged with covering Saka out on the right.
As Arteta issues, Trosssard has played in several roles for Arsenal, such as NO10, to the right and even as a false nine.
However, it is on the left that the Belgian looks most productive and indeed is the case towards the back of last season.
Trossard has scored six goals in the last 10 Crusader games and was probably Arsenal’s running form player.
A return to this form now, with Arsenal seeking to face without his Talismán Saka, it would be very timely while the gunners seek to maintain the speed of the Liverpool Premier League leaders.
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