Mikel Arteta hails Leandro Trossard’s Arsenal impact
Trossard #Trossard
Mikel Arteta praised Leandro Trossard for his “football intelligence” after his influential display in Arsenal’s win over Fulham.
Trossard had a hand in all three goals as the Gunners won the London derby 3-0 to restore their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League table and Arteta was thrilled with the January signing’s contribution.
Arteta said: “When we talk about composure and finding the right colour when it’s looking really blurry in the box and many players rush passes, he’s the opposite.
“He got three assists and could have scored two. I think he was really impressive.
“Not only that, he had an injury three days ago which could have taken a week, or another 10 days, but he was really willing to come back early and the doctors and medical staff did a lot of good work to get that.
“It makes a big difference in the team. We needed him today and his contribution was superb.”
Trossard has made an immediate impact since joining from Brighton and Arteta thinks the player has a superb football brain.
He said: “It’s football intelligence. He’s really clever to understand straight away what we want, what’s required. He’s executed it really well.”
Arsenal received a further boost as striker Gabriel Jesus returned from a lengthy injury absence but Arteta has warned the Brazilian striker that he will have to work hard to get his place in the team back.
The coach said: “He has to earn his place like in any other team. We have alternatives who can play in different positions and we have different goals as well to fill in relation to the chemistry of the players and what we ask them to do.
“It’s a great problem to have, believe me.”