Arsenal rejects offer from Al Ittihad for Trossard

Arsenal has turned down a lucrative offer from Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia to retain Belgian forward Leandro Trossard. This decision underscores the significant role Trossard plays in Coach Mikel Arteta's squad. Since his transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023, Trossard has scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 71 appearances. Given these performances, it was likely not a difficult decision for Arsenal to reject Al Ittihad's offer, which included a loan fee of 5 million euros and a purchase option of up to 25 million euros next summer. For Trossard, who turns 30 in December, this might evoke mixed feelings. Despite his versatility and reliability, he is not yet a regular starter for Arsenal. Nonetheless, he has delivered strong performances as a substitute, scoring six of his 14 league goals as a replacement. Arteta often praises Trossard for his professional attitude when not in the starting lineup. "Leo is disappointed, but he shows on the pitch how good he is," the coach recently said. Trossard himself also emphasized that it comes down to the player’s reaction. Last Saturday, Trossard started against his former club Brighton but was substituted after 59 minutes, following Declan Rice's red card that put Arsenal in a precarious situation. With injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino, and Rice's suspension, Trossard could take on a more central role in the attack in the coming weeks. The upcoming starting lineup might feature Trossard and Kai Havertz upfront. This combination has proven effective in the past, as Arsenal played two of their highest-scoring games last season. Despite competition from players like Gabriel Martinelli and new signing Raheem Sterling, it will be interesting to see if Trossard secures more starting appearances. However, if Trossard continues to primarily serve as a substitute, Arsenal might need to make long-term considerations regarding his role in the team in future transfer windows. Arteta stresses the necessity of squad depth and sees little sense in selling Trossard now without being able to recruit an equivalent replacement. For now, Trossard remains an important asset to the team, and Arteta's goal will be to maximize his contributions to enhance Arsenal's title chances. It will be crucial for both the player and the club to remain on a positive growth trajectory.