The player Arsenal didn’t know they needed

November 9, 2025 Oliver Obel

When Arsenal wrapped up their lavish summer transfer window — spending more than £250 million, according to The Athletic — few expected Trossard to stick around. Gabriel Martinelli’s uneven form prompted the signings of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke for over £50 million each, both capable of operating on the left flank.

At 30, Trossard appeared surplus to requirements. He had struggled to convince as a backup striker when Kai Havertz was injured last season, and the club’s acquisition of Swedish forward Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP seemed to push him further down the list.

Instead, Arsenal doubled down. On August 22, the club announced Trossard had signed a new deal on improved terms. “Leo was very clear from the beginning that he wanted to be here,” Arteta said at the time. “The club was very clear that they wanted Leo here. I was very clear that I wanted him here.”

Earning trust the hard way

Since joining from Brighton in January 2023, Trossard has quietly built an impressive resume. As BBC Sport reported, he has featured more often in all competitions than any other Arsenal player in that period — a mark of Arteta’s enduring trust.

Even so, his time in north London has been defined by inconsistency. He rarely completed full matches, and his impact often came in flashes. Yet the numbers tell their own story: among Arsenal’s regular attackers, only Gabriel Jesus has produced more combined non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes, based on Opta data cited by The Athletic.

That productivity only made his limited minutes more puzzling. Early this season, after signing his new contract, he found himself on the bench for four straight Premier League games — watching Martinelli, Eze, and Madueke rotate ahead of him.

A sub’s spark turns into a starting role

The turning point came in late August. With Arsenal comfortably leading Nottingham Forest 2–0, Trossard came off the bench and immediately assisted a Martín Zubimendi goal. His subdued celebration, though, hinted at underlying frustration.

Days later, in a Champions League tie away to Athletic Club, he delivered when it mattered — creating one goal and scoring another in a 2–0 win. That performance earned him a start against Manchester City the following weekend. He hasn’t looked back since.

He’s now on one of his longest runs of consecutive league starts since joining the club — and this time, he’s keeping his place through performance, not necessity. Unlike past spells when injuries opened the door, this resurgence has been built on merit.

Injury concerns highlight his value

Arteta’s attacking options have once again been tested by injuries. The manager admitted concern after Gyökeres picked up a muscle strain at Burnley, while Martinelli missed the midweek Champions League win at Slavia Prague. “We don’t know yet [how long for],” Arteta said post-match. Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke are close to returning but remain short of full fitness.

That leaves Trossard as one of the few fully fit and in-form forwards available — and he’s seizing the moment. He scored the winner at Fulham last month, ending Arsenal’s two-year run without a victory there, and also netted the decisive goal in last season’s north London derby. His knack for timely contributions has become one of Arsenal’s quiet strengths.

Leadership in the shadows

Now 30, Trossard is Arsenal’s oldest regular starter and increasingly a steadying influence in a youthful squad. His recent assists — pinpoint crosses converted by Declan Rice at Burnley and Mikel Merino in Prague — underline his quality in open play.

The data backs that up. As per Opta figures cited by Reuters, only Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze have created more expected assists (xA) from open play this season, while only Gyökeres generates more expected goals per 90 minutes.

Arteta has started managing his minutes like those of a first-choice player — resting him in the EFL Cup and substituting him late in European games once results are secure. It’s a sign of trust earned, not gifted.

From fringe to foundation

He may never be Arsenal’s marquee name, but Trossard has carved out a vital role. Once seen as expendable, he’s now essential — a player whose calm efficiency balances Arsenal’s intensity.

As the club chases silverware on multiple fronts, Trossard’s resurgence could prove one of Arteta’s smartest quiet victories: a reminder that sometimes the most valuable player isn’t the flashiest, but the one who always shows up when it counts.

Sources: The Athletic, BBC Sport, Reuters, Opta.