Belgian media hint at Trossard Arsenal exit

Trossard has made 168 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 35 goals and providing 32 assists, and the Belgian outlet describes him as one of the cornerstones of Arteta’s Arsenal.

His current season still stands up in terms of production. With seven goals and nine assists in all competitions, Trossard remains among Arsenal’s five most important players. Yet, like others in the squad, the timing of his loss of sharpness has been frustrating, with his last goal coming on 30 December against Aston Villa in that 4-1 win.

Before the turn of the year, he had scored seven times in 22 matches, even though he played through an injury at the start of the season. Since then, he has gone 22 games without a goal, although he did come close in the second leg against Sporting, when his header struck the post in the 0-0 draw.

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That drop-off has coincided with a more difficult spell for Arsenal, although Arteta’s side remain in contention for a historic double. Their Premier League lead over Manchester City has been cut to three points with four matches remaining, while City still have a game in hand. Arsenal also lost the League Cup final 2-0 to City and went out of the FA Cup against second-tier Southampton.

The Champions League offers a different picture. Arsenal are the only unbeaten side left in the competition and face Atletico Madrid in the semi-final after eliminating Sporting in the quarter-finals, winning 1-0 away before drawing 0-0 at home.

Trossard may not start the first leg at the Estadio Metropolitano, with the English press expecting Gabriel Martinelli to be preferred on the left and Viktor Gyokeres to lead the line. He remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Newcastle, despite injuries to Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze.

Last summer, Trossard attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa, Galatasaray and Besiktas, but Arteta blocked a move and his contract was improved.

A year on, things feel different different.

Trossard’s age, contract status and the possibility of the World Cup placing him in a better shop window all point towards an exit for a player still valued at €20m.

He has the chance to help Arsenal reach their first Champions League final since 2006 and claim their first league title since Arsene Wenger’s unbeaten season in 2003-04.

But if Belgian media are right, any final act could also be a farewell.