Arsenal have been told why Leandro Trossard’s form after returning from injury could be a concern
Former Arsenal star Nigel Winterburn has expressed concern about Leandro Trossard’s form since the forward returned from injury. The Belgium international has played a pivotal role in helping the Gunners battle for the Premier League title as well as other major honours.
Trossard has scored seven goals across all competitions this season, five of which have come in the Premier League.
However, the 31-year-old has not scored in any competition since December, but has provided assists in each of his last two Champions League appearances to help get wins over Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan.
Trossard handed Arsenal a fresh injury scare over the international break after he was withdrawn from the Belgium squad.
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The Belgian FA said in a statement: “This decision will allow him to continue their rehabilitation under optimal conditions.”
The forward joins Martin Zubimendi, Piero Hincapie, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber who have all been withdrawn from their respective national teams squads with potential injury concerns.
Trossard missed two matches with a hop injury earlier this month but returned to start in the second leg against Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16, as well as the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
With Trossard only recently returning from injury earlier this month, Winterburn has explained why he believes the forward has not been able to perform at his best since his return.
“When we start throwing names around, we start to assume they’d want to join Arsenal. You have to be very, very careful,” Winterburn told AceOdds.com.
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“I don’t know how far we want to go back but let’s go halfway through the season, I’d say Trossard was the wide player in form, with the most goals, I think and most assists or chances created. He switched a bit with Martinelli, who had that unbelievable run of scoring in four-five games.
“Trossard was injured and I don’t think he’s come back to his highest level. [Gabriel] Martinelli is in and out of the team.”
Winterburn also explained why Arsenal may be wise to look at signing a new wide forward in the summer, with Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia named as a potential option.
“I suppose you’d say that if Arsenal are looking at upgrading a position, then it would be on that left hand side,” Winterburn said. “That’s not hiding from the fact or saying that the other two aren’t good. They are good players but you’re asking ‘would the club be looking at someone who can take it to the next level’?
“I think Mikel Arteta and the club would say that we’re doing that with every position. Certain positions would be very hard to upgrade but you keep looking and keep trying because if the window opens for you to get somebody, you go ahead and take it.
“Kvaratskhelia, boy oh boy, if he knocked on the door and said I want to come to Arsenal, I don’t think many people would say, ‘no, thank you’. I think they’d be saying, ‘if we can afford you, come on in’.”
Arsenal will be hoping that Trossard is fit and available after the international break, with the Gunners competing on three fronts when top-flight football resumes.
The Gunners have an FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton this weekend as a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon next week.
Plus, Arsenal will soon resume their quest to win the Premier League title as they face Bournemouth on April 11, as they look to improve or maintain their nine-point advantage over Manchester City.
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