Trossard on his tremendous 2023
The Belgian forward is sure to look back at the last year with plenty of pride - after all, it’s been a momentous 12 months for our no19 – on the pitch and off it.
The year certainly started in eventful fashion for Leo, who completed his transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion on January 20, he made his Arsenal debut in a memorable 3-2 win against Manchester United two days later and then had further cause for celebration when his second child was born on January 30.
Things have settled down since that non-stop start to his Gunners career – with Leo quickly establishing himself as a key member of our first-team squad.
He ended the 2022/23 campaign with 11 direct goal contributions – an average of one every other match – including making a small slice of niche Premier League history in our win at Fulham in which he became the first player in the competition’s history to provide a hat-trick of assists in the first half of a match away from home.
Leo has consistently impressed this season too, netting crucial goals at Everton and Chelsea in the Premier League, scoring our 1,000th at Emirates Stadium to set up a 3-1 win over Burnley and marking his Champions League debut with a fine low curler from 18 yards.
It’s no surprise to learn Leo is loving life in north London – and he’s putting his encouraging first year down to how quickly he was able to acclimatise to life at Arsenal.
“I felt welcome from the first day,” Leo told us at the training ground recently. “The way this team helps you to settle in is great. We’ve got quite a young squad and everyone tries to involve you in everything. That makes it a lot easier.
“When I arrived, all my teammates came over and spoke to me. A lot of the squad have joined in the past couple of years. They know the feeling of arriving somewhere new and they try to integrate everyone from the start.”
So, how is that atmosphere created?
“Winning helps a lot, of course,” Leo says with a smile. “But I think the manager and the staff have been important in creating that too. Mikel has built a team of humble players who work hard every day. If you have the right personalities together, it’s always going to click. That’s happened here.
“The manager tried to help me as much as possible in my early days here. He gave me a clear indication of how he wanted to play, of how he saw me in these roles. That helped me to settle, just as my teammates have.
“We have a great atmosphere in the team. If anyone is ever a bit down in the dressing room, some of the squad will go over and speak to them. It’s just like a big family really.
“All the players are happy with the team. We want to win every game and that’s what we’re competing for.
“There’s more depth and, with how we compete, everyone has to be at the top of their game. Otherwise, they know they won’t be playing. That’s how you strive for greatness. We have such a good group at the moment, not only on the field but also off the field, and that helps a lot to perform.
“Every day you come to the training ground with a smile because you know you’re going to enjoy your day with the team. It’s such a nice group and it’s a pleasure to be here.
“But everyone is really driven to make sure we’re a proper team too. By that I mean realising the collective is the priority. You have to be completely committed to that. To really be successful, you need to give everything. That of course goes for when you’re on the pitch - but also when you’re not. One week you could be on the bench but in the next match, you could be the match-winner.
“Everyone needs to be aligned with the same target. But it’s also down to quality. If you have a team who play to each other’s strengths, that helps. It’s the same when a team has been playing together for a while and it just clicks on the pitch. That’s important too. But what’s really good here is that everyone genuinely wants each other to do well. That’s a great thing to have in a squad.”
"Every day you come to the training ground with a smile because you know you’re going to enjoy your day with the team"
Leo has forged a particularly fruitful partnership with Bukayo Saka. In fact, each of the Belgian’s first seven Arsenal goals were assisted by our No 7.
“I don’t know why but every time B is on the ball, I just know I need to make a movement or come close to him,” Leo explains. “Against Burnley recently, I just gambled on him winning the header and he did – and that’s why I got the goal.
“I get along with B really well. He’s such a lovely guy and always down to earth. You can speak to him about everything and it’s nice to chat to him. I always try to get in the right positions and, so far, it’s been B who has set up my goals. But I’m sure there will be someone else in the next games or that I will assist other team-mates.”
Capable of playing in a variety of positions, Leo’s versatility has proved valuable this season. But where does he feel most comfortable on the pitch?
“That’s a tough question,” he told former Gunner Adrian Clarke, recently. “I don’t really mind playing in any of those positions up top – as a left winger, as a false nine, even as an attacking midfielder. I don’t really have a straight answer for that!
“I always try to be in the box and in good positions to score goals. With the quality that we have, I know where I have to be. For example, if I play on the left wing, I know where I need to be when, for example, B is on the ball on the right side. I follow my instinct to get in the right positions to score goals.
“I have to be switched on every day, but that keeps me on my toes. That’s the way it goes for me at the moment. I need to bear in mind that I can play in multiple positions and I need to be ready in each one of them. I try to compete and play in the best possible way.”
"I need to bear in mind that I can play in multiple positions and I need to be ready in each one of them"
Leo’s adaptability goes beyond the position he plays in. Although predominantly right-footed, Leo’s first three Gunners goals were netted with his left.
“My grandad really inspired me, especially when I was younger,” Leo says. “He didn’t play much football but he helped me a lot throughout my career. He was always there for me, supporting me, coming to games and everything.
“In fact he was the one training me to use my left foot as well. He always used to say that if you want to be a top player, you need to develop both feet. He said you have to be two-footed and he helped me with that.
“He lived nearby and whenever I stayed with him he would always take me out to practise with him.”
Family is clearly vital for Leo – and he’s delighted that his loved ones also feel right at home in north London.
“My family are really enjoying being a part of the club too,” he says. “They were really excited when I joined Arsenal.
“My eldest son is still a bit young to focus on full matches but he enjoys watching me on the pitch. As everyone knows, my celebration is for him. Before every game, he’ll remind me what I need to do if I score.
“This is such a big club and it’s already been such an exciting journey for me. I’m looking forward to that continuing in the future – and so are my family.”
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