Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty has Arsenal intention as he reflects on Gunners' spell

Auston Trusty says he will always be thankful to Arsenal after his move to the Emirates Stadium paved the way for him to fulfil his dream of playing Premier League football. The defender is set to come up against his former employers on Saturday for the first time following his summer move.

The 25-year-old joined Mikel Arteta's side in January 2022 from the MLS but failed to feature in a competitive match. He returned to Colorado Rapids for the remainder of that campaign on loan before spending the 2022-2023 season at Birmingham in the Championship, where he impressed.

His form at St Andrew's caught the attention of Sheffield United, who made him a club record signing for a defender at £5m and he made his first Premier League start recently in the 3-1 defeat at Fulham, before following that up with an impressive performance against Manchester United last time out.

He said: "I'm excited to go back. I'm looking forward to it but I'm looking forward to us getting a result, that's what my mindset is. Then after the game, you say hi to everybody. I'm there for this team and to get a result. You want to show them I can play and that you guys are missing out.

"Everything happened for a reason and everything happens for a reason and I am happy with how things have turned out. I signed for Arsenal from Colorado Rapids, went back on loan there and then came here to Birmingham City. Would I have loved to play Premier League minutes with Arsenal? I would have loved that but I have had Premier League minutes here with Sheffield United.

"Me signing for them, coming overseas and getting a chance to go to Birmingham City and show myself there and in England gave me an opportunity to come to a place like this. I can be nothing but thankful for my time there. I look at it only as a positive."