Leandro Trossard’s goal against West Ham was pivotal in Arsenal’s bid to win the Premier League.
After finding the net in the final minute at the London Stadium, it truly felt inevitable that the Gunners would end the season as English champions for the first time in 22 years.
Lo and behold, Trossard not only celebrated that goal a few weeks later, but also celebrated winning the title in front of the away supporters at Selhurst Park.
The Belgian has become something of a cult hero in north London since signing from Brighton, but at 31 it’s time for the Gunners to source an upgrade.
Arsenal aim to sign Trossard’s replacement
One of Arsenal’s biggest priorities heading into the summer is strengthening their forward line.
Mikel Arteta’s side never let PSG escape in last Saturday’s Champions League final, but the difference between the two attacks was night and day.
Arsenal could have Bukayo Saka, they could have Kai Havertz. But they are not Ballon d’Or winners Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué or Hivça Kvaratschelia.
Coincidentally, the Gunners have shown interest in PSG’s Georgian superstar, but the move feels like a non-starter. However, that is not the case for teammate Bradley Barcola. Arsenal are reportedly interested in the Frenchman, but he is not a top attacking target. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers.
However, the Englishman’s transfer valuation is close to £100m, so some negotiation will be necessary to bring the price down.
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Morgan Rodgers is not the only England player linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.
A cheaper replacement could therefore be found in the form of AC Milan’s Rafael Leao. The Portuguese winger revealed to the media over the weekend that he has decided it is now time to leave San Siro.
So where does he end up? Well, if the player’s wishes come true, he will be in the Premier League this summer.
Italy’s Corriere dello Sport newspaper reports that Leo is “dreaming” of moving to England in the transfer window, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea among others named as clubs interested in a move.
Compared to Rodgers, the Milan forward is available for a bargain fee, with the Italian giants hoping their asking price of £43m is met. It doesn’t seem that steep for the England side.
Comparison of Rafael Leao and Trossard
With Leo set to leave Milan, it would not be surprising if Trossard played his final game for his current employers.
It would be an outrageous way for the winger to win the Premier League title and celebrate in front of a million people on the streets of north London on Sunday.
Since moving to the Emirates, the diminutive Belgian has proven to be one of the best players in the club’s history, considering his price.
Trossard signed for just £27m and has repaid his wages well. He scored as many as 17 goals during the 2023/24 season, and although his numbers dropped after that campaign, he continued to score goals all the time. of Arteta’s go-to man in crucial moments.
The 31-year-old has been Arsenal’s Mr Clutch, not only scoring a vital goal against West Ham but also producing key moments throughout his stay.
During the aforementioned 23/24 season, it was Trossard who saved a point with a late equalizer against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and he also scored against Liverpool, again against Chelsea and again against Manchester United. The forward was also the man who scored the decisive equalizer in that season’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
However, as he approaches the end of his career, the club’s number 19 is becoming less consistent. That game against the Hammers was his first appearance in 25 games. It was a truly barren form of curse.
As a result, we feel now is the perfect time to upgrade, and at Leao you can find the right person for the job.
The Portuguese superstar, described by Como scout Ben Mattinson as “one of the best left wingers in the world”, has long been a mainstay for Milan.
The 26-year-old finished this season with just 10 goals and three assists in all competitions, before starring in Milan’s famous black and red shirt.
Last season, Leo had 12 goals and 11 assists, adding to the 15 goals and 12 assists he recorded the year before. For a long time he was one of the most dangerous wide players in European football.
Milan manager Stefano Pioli has said he resembles an ‘early Thierry Henry’ due to the way he cuts inside from the left to the right, but the numbers are overwhelmingly in Leo’s favor, especially when comparing the stats from the 2024/25 season, when both players were more consistent.
2024/25 Leo vs Trossard | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90 minutes) | lion | Trossard |
the goal | 0.4 | 0.3 |
shot | 1.8 | 1.6 |
shot accuracy | 64% | 50% |
conversion rate | 12% | 11% |
assist | 0.4 | 0.3 |
An opportunity has arisen | 2.3 | 1.5 |
Take-up completed | 2.3 | 1.4 |
foul drawn | 2.1 | 1.7 |
won a duel | 6.0 | 4.4 |
An elite dribbler and ball carrier, Leo thrives when he can isolate fullbacks and attack them one-on-one.
He is not as complex as Trossard in tight spaces, but his tall, wiry physique allows him to outrun players with ease. Once Milan’s superstar starts running at full speed, it’s impossible to stop him.
He is a winner in duels, a master of defeating players, is able to score goals and is also capable of providing assists on a regular basis.
He feels Leo is exactly the type of game-changing addition Arteta needs in his attack as Arsenal aim to boost their success in the Premier League next season.
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