Leandro Trossard has now hit double figures for goals this season, and his combination with Kai Havertz makes him a candidate for starts even when Gabriel Jesus is back.
When Leandro Trossard fired in Arsenal’s fourth goal against Burnley on Saturday, he was scoring his 10th goal of the 2023/24 campaign in all competitions.
The Belgium international is only behind Bukayo Saka for Arsenal goals in the Premier League (12 vs 7) or in all competitions (15 vs 10) this season, and he’s managed an impressive 23 direct goal contributions in just over a year since joining the club.
The 29-year-old also provides a varied threat in front of goal, with exactly half of his non-headed goals coming from his left foot and half from his right – five each.
With four goals in Arsenal’s last five games since the winter break, it’s hard to imagine Mikel Arteta wanting to drop Trossard right now.
But more than his individual exploits, the Belgian’s case is helped by his impact on some of the players around him.
Kai Havertz linked up particularly well with Trossard against Burnley, laying the ball off to Saturday’s centre-forward to win a penalty in the first half, and seeing his shot turned in on the rebound by Trossard in the second half.
But even outside of the goals, each seemed to benefit from the other’s presence. Havertz occupied defenders with his physicality and Trossard took full advantage of the resulting space.
Arsenal’s goalscoring form has picked up significantly since the winter break, though let’s not forget that Gabriel Jesus started in the initial wins over Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.
Since then, Jesus has been out injured. With all due respect to the Brazilian, whose performances have absolutely raised Arsenal’s level in the last season and a half, the Gunners haven’t missed him.
We shouldn’t draw any conclusions just yet. Jesus remains Arsenal’s go-to striker in the Champions League, with six goal contributions in five games so far.
But if the 26-year-old can’t stay fit, he may find it difficult to hold down a place ahead of an in-form Trossard in a reinvigorated Arsenal side.