Leandro Trossard has already dropped hint on Arsenal future as Saudi bid launched

Leandro Trossard has already explained why he will remain at Arsenal as the Gunners rejected Al-Ittihad’s bid for the forward.

It emerged on Monday morning that the Saudi Pro League giants had launched an offer of £4.2million to sign Trossard on loan along with a £20m obligation to buy. The bid was swiftly rejected by the north Londoners, who informed Al-Ittihad that the Belgian international is not for sale.

Trossard is considered a key player in Arsenal’s Premier League title charge and any sale at this point would leave the Gunners unable to sign a replacement. The offer comes after suggestions that Trossard has grown frustrated at not nailing down a permanent starting role in Mikel Arteta’s side, despite being one of their best performers in 2024.

He began the first two games of the 2024/25 season on the bench with Arteta preferring to start Gabriel Martinelli, before turning to Trossard again for the 1-1 draw against Brighton. But Trossard recently expressed his own desire to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place, believing that the competition in the team has improved him.

He said after scoring a decisive goal as a substitute in last month’s win at Aston Villa: “I know the competition in the team and it pushes everyone to go onto the next level and as I said before, I’m very happy to have an impact and help the team and it’s a great win for us.

“I think you can see it on the pitch as well, I’m feeling great. I think I’ve shown that over the last months and it helps the team as well and it pushes everyone across the team. In every position there’s competition, it’s what the club also needs.”

Instead of celebrating, Trossard sported a noticeably bemused facial expression after stroking it past Emiliano Martinez at Villa park, having just replaced Martinelli off the bench. While some took it to mean Trossard was unhappy with his spell at Arsenal, Arteta played down any friction between the pair, praising the wide-forward’s mentality and impact.

Arteta said: “First of all when you don’t get picked there are certain ways to react. He is upset but he is upset to show on the pitch how good he is, not upset and then come in and complain (he) wasn’t playing, that is a huge quality.

“Then, when you put him in the starting line-up, he does exactly the same thing. That is a big message and a big example for the rest of the team and myself.”

Trossard’s goal against Villa was his sixth as an Arsenal sub and his 18th since the beginning of last season. He was subbed off prematurely against Brighton after Declan Rice’s red card forced Arteta to bring on defender Riccardo Calafiori on the hour mark.