£150,000-a-year star ‘better than Saka’ Trossard could end his stay at Arsenal

Regardless of dropping factors on the Stadium of Gentle, Arsenal supporters are understandably feeling fairly good general.

Targets from Bukayo Saka after which Leandro Trossard turned the sport round on Saturday evening because the Gunners seemed to choose up all three factors on Wearside, however Sunderland equalized within the 94th minute.

Earlier, Mikel Arteta’s aspect had gained 10 video games in all competitions and saved eight consecutive clear sheets, equaling the membership report set in 1903. So we head into a giant week with video games in opposition to Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea with a four-point lead over a moderately ominous Manchester Metropolis aspect.

Nonetheless, in hindsight, it’s exceptional that Arsenal have been capable of string collectively so many wins, on condition that they’re at present with out six attackers.

4 of the sidelined forwards are anticipated to be again in time for the North London derby, however which of the six will wish to dislodge the Gunners’ most efficient attacker?

Leandro Trossard’s standings at Arsenal this season

Over the summer season, if reviews are to be believed, a lot of golf equipment have been occupied with signing Trossard, Aston Villa, Brentford and Fenerbahce, to call just some, and plenty of Gooners thought they wanted an improve and now was the time to signal the 30-year-old.

Nicely, Arteta actually didn’t agree and even gave the Belgian a pay rise, however this resolution was justified on condition that Trossard at present leads Arsenal by way of complete targets and assists this season, because the desk under exhibits.

Because the desk exhibits, Trossard ranks first at Arsenal with a complete of eight targets and assists.

All 4 of his targets up to now have come away at Athletic Membership, Port Vale and Fulham (I wager these three golf equipment have by no means been on the record collectively earlier than!) till this rocket that put them forward on the Stadium of Gentle on Saturday evening.

Trossard subsequently stays a key determine on this group and is nearly sure to start out in opposition to Spurs after the worldwide break, however he could also be launched in its place once more because the season progresses.

Equally, in the long term, though there was a big wage enhance, his contract has not really been prolonged, along with his present contract nonetheless set to run out in the summertime of 2027, leaving doubts as as to whether he’ll nonetheless be beneath contract past subsequent summer season.

The previous Brighton star, who is because of flip 31 subsequent month, is nearly actually nearer to the tip of his journey on the Emirates than the start, and there are already candidates for his alternative.

Arsenal attacker aiming for Trossard’s spot

As we now have already hinted, the Gunners are at present with out six attackers, which is why Arteta has had to return to Mikel Merino, who was up entrance for Prague and Wearside final week.

There may be optimism that Gabriel Martinelli, Victor Gokeres, Martin Odegaard and Noni Maduke may all characteristic within the North London derby, with the return of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus prone to be just a few extra weeks away.

However it’s Madueke who most supporters are most trying ahead to seeing taking part in once more.

The 22-year-old’s controversial £52m transfer from Chelsea this summer season had nothing to do with him personally, however partly it was as a result of his vocal on-line supporters merely being fed up with signing Chelsea’s launched gamers, to place it diplomatically.

Regardless of this, Maduke, who is alleged to be incomes £150,000 per week, rapidly proved his value by beginning on the left within the second Premier League recreation of the season in opposition to Leeds.

Nevertheless, Saka was injured throughout that match, and Maduke was substituted on the best wing for the subsequent 4 video games earlier than struggling a knee harm in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on the day Saka made his well timed return.

After all, with Man Metropolis main 1-0 at half-time, everybody was completely happy to see Saka introduced on, however given Maduke’s sharpness within the first 45 minutes, there was some confusion at Maduke’s substitution, however typically the followers within the stadium have been nonetheless unaware that this was a pressured substitution as a result of harm.

Maduke has performed simply 396 minutes for Arsenal in complete, which is in regards to the time it takes to fly from London to Lagos, which is not any small period of time, giving the impression that what we have seen up to now is simply an leisure of what is to come back.

Upon his arrival, Arteta declared the “thrilling and highly effective” 23-year-old to be “some of the gifted huge forwards within the Premier League” and had proven glimpses of his potential even earlier than his harm.

In the meantime, again in September, former Manchester United defender Paul Parker exclaimed: “I really suppose he is higher than Bukayo Saka” after Maduke, who additionally stands in for his membership team-mate at worldwide stage, scored his first purpose for England in a 5-0 win over Serbia on the Stadion Rajko Mitic.

That is clearly a daring declare, and if there’s one factor we have discovered throughout Arteta’s six-year reign, it is that if Saka is wholesome and out there, he’ll play.

It’s subsequently unrealistic to recommend that Madueke may displace the Gunners’ joint high scorer on the best wing, however the left wing may be very a lot up for grabs.

Martinelli and Ebelesi Eze have began there at varied factors this season, additional underscoring that Trossard is the present tenant and that the place is up for grabs.

Madueke’s electrical dribbling and explosive pace will add one other dimension to the Gunners’ assault and be a invaluable asset, with video games in opposition to Spurs, Bayern Munich and former group Chelsea subsequent up. There are hints that Trossard may very well be completely relegated to a super-sub position, with the left-wing spot his personal.