The Gunners signed Trossard from Brighton in January 2023 in a deal worth £21million plus add-ons. Since then, the forward has scored 19 goals in 71 appearances and played a key role in helping Arsenal challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons.
Trossard already has one goal to his name this season and will be looking to enjoy a similarly successful season as last term when he found the back of the net 17 times. However, this week has seen the forward be the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia.
Arsenal rejected a bid worth €35million (£29.4million) from Saudi Pro league club Al Ittihad for Trossard on Monday. The Gunners had no intention of allowing the Belgium international to leave the Emirates Stadium, with the transfer window in Saudi Arabia closing on Monday night.
Before Trossard signed for Arsenal, there were seemingly some criticisms of the forward's behaviour from the Seagulls' now-former manager, Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian left Trossard out of a matchday squad for a Premier League clash against Liverpool in January 2023 and claimed that it was the forward's behaviour at the training ground that contributed to the decision.
“The last training session before the Middlesbrough game when he understood he [Trossard] didn’t play, he left the session without saying anything to me. And it’s not good," De Zerbi told reporters in January last year.
“The Monday after, I spoke with him and I explained this attitude, this behaviour, I don’t like.
“He knows very well that if he wants to play with Brighton with me, he has to work hard, he has to run, he has to be in the right way because we are not a big team such as Real Madrid or Barcelona, we are Brighton and we need players who work like the others who stay in Brighton.
“I don’t know what is the problem. I want to be clear, I am open with him to take a step back and listen to him but he has to understand with me, I want only players who work hard and play for the team 100 per cent.”
Amid the uncertainty around Trossard's future, the player's agent, Josy Comhair issued a statement clarifying the player's situation at Brighton.
"Before Leandro left for Qatar, it was Brighton's intention to extend his contract, this did not happen as parties did not reach an agreement," the statement read, as relayed by Sky Sports in January 2023. "Leandro has also indicated he is ready for his next step.
"After the World Cup [in Qatar] there was an altercation at training between Leandro and another player over an inanity. Since then, the trainer has not spoken to Leandro, which is obviously not conducive to the atmosphere, as well as performance-wise.
"Leandro still was a first-eleven player against Southampton and Arsenal but against Everton he was on the bench. In the five substitutions that took place then, he was also not among them and this is without any explanation.
"In the run-up to the match against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, Leandro had already reported calf problems twice. This was the reason he stopped training. This was in consultation with the medical staff.
"Through the physical trainer, Leandro learned that he had to train separately. Last Monday the trainer then grounded Leandro in the group and indicated that he did not want to see him anymore. A trainer who has not communicated directly with his player for four weeks is truly incomprehensible.
"It is also the trainer who has indicated several times that a transfer is the most reasonable solution.
"It is therefore important that Brighton cooperates with a potential transfer, which is beneficial for both parties"
One week after De Zerbi's comments and the statement, Trossard was putting pen to paper on his contract to become an Arsenal player. He is now a regular starter for Mikel Arteta's side and will be hoping to lead the club to a successful season both in the Premier League as well as the Champions League and other cup competitions.
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