Ray Parlour has labelled the performances of Leandro Trossard at Arsenal as ‘excellent’, even though the January transfer capture was ‘the second choice’ forward option for Mikel Arteta’s men.
The Arsenal legend was making reference to a certain Mykhailo Mudryk, who was sending out hint after hint that he wanted to move to the Emirates in January, only to hop on to Chelsea’s money-crazy train.
It seems as though the Premier League leaders just weren’t willing to meet Shakhtar Donetsk’s high financial demands for the 22-year-old.
Instead, they opted to bring in Trossard to the Emirates after paying Brighton £27 million (Sky Sports) for a player whose contract was due to expire in the summer.
It has proven to be a blessing for the north London club because, whilst Mudryk is still trying to settle in at Chelsea and has only registered one assist, Trossard supplied three in one half as Arsenal eased past Fulham over the weekend.
That five-point gap to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has been maintained and Parlour is loving the new kid on the block, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast (13/03/23).
“Another good signing has been Trossard,” said Parlour. “He has been excellent. He knows the Premier League. He knows exactly what he is going to deal with every single week.
“They were looking for Mudryk, who went to Chelsea, and that was the second choice. There is a plan there with Arsenal and signings. I think Edu has done a great job – I think Edu has got a strategy with where they are going, if we can’t get him, then we are going to get him and Trossard has been a great signing.”
TROSSARD PROVIDING THAT SPARK
Last January, when Arsenal were pushing for a top-four finish, the club opted to boot captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the door and they didn’t bring in a replacement.
Whilst the call to send Aubameyang packing was the right one, the lack of a new face cost the team because their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur signed Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, the duo would go on to play a huge part in Spurs finishing fourth.
Well, fast forward to the present and the signing of Trossard has provided that magic, freshness and much-needed competition for the Gunners, as they aim to keep the dominant Manchester City at bay in the title race.
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