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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained the reasoning behind the decision to bring Leandro Trossard to the Emirates. The Belgian winger has made a switch from Brighton to the Gunners after a falling out with Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi.
The Brighton manager criticised the forward’s attitude, with Trossard not taking long at all to find a new club, having attracted interest from a handful of Premier League sides.
But it was Arsenal who won the race, with the Belgian joining on a reported £21m deal until 2027. He has seven goals and three assists from his 16 league games this season.
Arsenal boss explains Trossard signature
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Arteta has confirmed that his new signature has already trained with the Gunners, and should be available to take on Manchester United on Sunday.
And the manager has explained exactly why he brought Trossard to north London, noting the player’s Premier League experience, his versatility, and the club’s necessity to bring in cover for the injured Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson.
“He’s a player we followed for a while now,” said Arteta, as per LiveScore.
“The opportunity came, we have the necessity, obviously, to have a player in the frontline that is versatile enough to play in different positions. He knows the league, has enough experience here, and I think he can have an immediate impact in the team.
“In the summer we were looking for a player in that position and we were unable to do it. It’s something this squad needed, obviously with the injuries of Gabby and Reiss.
“We are really short in the front line and we needed reinforcements, and we found in Leandro a player who fits everything we want.”
Gunners switch up transfer policy
Trossard represents a slight change-up in Arsenal’s recent recruitment, with the 28-year-old representing a much older signing than the youth policy that has been followed over the years.
Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is 22, was seemingly their primary target this month, but the youngster instead opted to join Chelsea.
The Gunners have acted quickly, however, in bringing in Trossard. And the Belgian may not be their only signing this month, despite the club’s high-flying campaign so far.
New Arsenal winger finds a familiar face
Arsenal are currently leading the Premier League standings with 47 points, with Man United going into the game eight points behind the Gunners.
Trossard is poised to make his Arsenal debut in their meeting on Sunday, and will no doubt be full of energy in a bid to kickstart his 2023. And he will have been met with a familiar face upon his arrival, with Arteta’s assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg previously working with Trossard at Genk.
The Arsenal boss has revealed just how glowing a reference Stuivenberg offered him about Trossard, with Arteta saying: “Albert gave me a really, really good reference, but not for now, for a few years [ago].
“We talk about everything that is connected, about players we know we want to recruit because character is something crucial, but as well to understand how they are, how they behave, whether they can accept the role they’re going to have at the club with us, and then personal conversations. Obviously they are very important as well.”
Looking good, @LTrossard 🤩 pic.twitter.com/FKppB0TtFl
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 20, 2023
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