How Arsenal could line up with Leandro Trossard

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 20 Jan 2023 16:02 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal have officially completed the £27 million signing of Brighton & Hove Albion star Leandro Trossard, following their failed pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhailo Mudryk.

The Gunners had their sights set on signing the Ukraine international Mudryk this month after months of speculation, but a late hijack from Graham Potter's Chelsea spoiled their plans, with the 22-year-old joining the West London club in a deal that could reach €100m if add-ons are met.

Arsenal quickly moved on from Mudryk, however, with their pursuit of Trossard being concluded rapidly, in order for the Belgian to be available for selection against Manchester United.

READ: OFFICIAL: Arsenal confirm Trossard signing for £27m

The Belgian forward netted seven times for the Seagulls in 16 appearances this season, but he recently fell out with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, who omitted the 27-year-old from the matchday squad as his side beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on 14 January.

That led to his sale, with Trossard deemed surplus to requirements at Brighton, a fact compounded by the recent form of Kaoru Mitomas and Evan Ferguson. He has joined the Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are looking to end their long wait to finally win the English top flight again. Their most recent triumph in the competition came back in the 2003-04 season.

READ: Odegaard's Arsenal form is elite - and it's permanent

How will Arsenal line up with Trossard?

The Gunners' first-choice starting XI will most likely stay the same, despite Trossard's arrival.

The form of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka out wide and Eddie Nketiah through the middle since taking over from the injured Gabriel Jesus means Trossard will find it hard to force his way into Mikel Arteta's preferred side.

Ultimately, he has mostly joined the club as a back-up option to provide depth and competition, similar to the role Reiss Nelson performed over the first-half of the campaign.

Aaron Ramsdale will continue as the club's number one, playing behind a back four consisting of Benjamin White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard will look to build on their impressive start to 2022/23, while Saka, Martinelli and Nketiah will remain the front three.

When Trossard does manage to pick up minutes, he will likely replace Martinelli as Arsenal's left winger. The Brazilian has played a lot of football this season and will need a rest as the run-in approaches, meaning Trossard will mostly play on the left flank.

He may pick up a few minutes as Arsenal's striker, especially with Jesus yet to return to action, but once the Brazil international is back, Trossard will mostly be found on the left of the Gunners' front three.