The 2025 summer transfer window was meant to be a major shake-up for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta had finally been given a striker that would lead them to Premier League glory and Noni Madueke was brought in to provide cover and competition on both wings.
It hasn’t quite worked out that way though. Viktor Gyokeres looks clunky, his first touch is abysmal, and he struggles to keep up with his teammates. Madueke has impressed in spells, but we’ve not seen enough of the former Chelsea man to judge him fairly.
Thankfully for Arsenal, they have a long list of remarkably consistent performers that no other Premier League club has, and few have been as important as Leandro Trossard so far this season.
The most underrated player in the Premier League?
Arsenal fans were desperate for the club to sign an ‘upgrade’ on Trossard in the summer. Atheltic Club’s Nico Williams was linked, as was Rodrygo at Real Madrid were linked, among others, but a move never materialised or even got off the ground.
There wasn’t any petition as far as we’re aware, but Trossard stayed, and was even given an odd new contract that didn’t extend his time at the club in anyway but instead gave him a reportedly pretty significant pay rise, so Arteta clearly rates him.
Trossard was a bit part player at the start of the season, it wasn’t until a fantastic substitute appearance in the 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club, in which he scored and provided an assist, that Arteta decided he should be given more of a chance.
He has since started 13 of his las 19 games across all competitions and has become Arsenal’s joint top Premier League goal scorer, alongside Gyokeres, with five goals, while also leading the way for assists with four.
His performance in the recent 4-1 over Aston Villa proves exactly why Arteta wanted to keep him around. Trossard scored the third goal of the game and then provided the assist for the fourth, but that wasn’t all he did.
The Belgian ended the game having created three chances, was dispossessed just once, had five touches in the opposition box, and won two of his five duels. It was the type of consistent performance we’ve grown accustomed to, but with some end product as a cherry on top of the cake.
What do Trossard’s underlying numbers tell us?
Trossard is overperforming in terms of his goal contributions. The Belgian has a, xG of 3.95, but has managed to score five goals, two of which have come from outside of the area. He’s also not a high-volume shooter, with just 27, ten of which have been on target.
Now, Arsenal have the fourth highest average possession in the Premier League, meaning more often than not, opposition sides are parking more players behind the ball and putting the pressure on Arsenal to break them down.
So, as a result, Trossard’s dribbling numbers aren’t great. He’s completed just nine at a rate of 39.1% across his 15 Premier League games. He has only been dispossessed 15 times and won 16 fouls though.
Areta is clearly fine to let the little winger focus on the attacking aspect of his game. Of his 607 touches, 69 of them have been in the opposition box, while his defensive numbers are average at best.
Trossard has made 11 tackles, won 40 duels at a success rate of 44.9%, made four interceptions, and has won possession back in the final third three times. All of that isn’t too much of a worry when you have Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Jurrien Timber behind you though.
What is Arteta saying about Trossard?
Arteta is a big Trossard fan, and it’s easy to see why. Speaking ahead of their game against Bournemouth on Saturday (January 3), he praised the winger for his consistency since he joined from Brighton back in 2023.
“I think he's been very consistent, very stable but as have all of the front players, I would say because they have contributed through the season so far in a great way, whether it's starting or whether as an impact player as well,” he said.
“So, that's what we need. Wherever we put them, they will bring different qualities to the team but I think they're in a great moment.
“(They need to) want to start but as well fulfilling their role when they have to come in in an extraordinary way. That's something that we have improved a lot so every time we bring in players on the pitch they're really deciding the games. That's what we need.
“I think he's gone up a level every season. He's such an intelligent player, he's a player that really wants it, he's found his role, he’s found his maturity here and then I think his confidence level is higher, he's a player that can create magic moments and a very important player for us.
“We are very happy with him, he knows that we talked about it many times and I think he's very happy here as well.”
Verdict
Arsenal need their attacking players to step up if they want to finally get their hands on the title at the end of the season, they can’t rely on Man City slipping up like they did in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland on Thursday (January 1).
For now, Trossard has things ticking over, and may well be their most important forward heading into the second half of the season.