One Arsenal player’s recent exploits have been reminiscent of the feats performed by a hero of the Gunners’ 1998 double-winning side.
A number of players have stepped up and delivered for Arsenal when it has really counted this season.
William Saliba has produced man of the match performances away from home against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Declan Rice has been described as having “Roy of the Rovers DNA,” due to his capacity for heroics. Arsenal fans have heaped praise on Kai Havertz for his impressive form at the business end of the campaign.
The Gunners’ title challenge this season has been made possible by so many of the club’s individual stars hitting new heights, whilst remaining committed to working within the team structure and style of play that Mikel Arteta has designed.
There have also been unexpected heroes. Jakub Kiwior enjoyed a period in the limelight, whilst few would have predicted that Leandro Trossard would have been quite as influential as he has been in the second half of the campaign.
The Belgian attacker made another telling contribution on Sunday afternoon, as he provided the all-important goal in the Gunners’ vital 1-0 triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Trossard established himself as something of a super-sub this season, but has now nailed down a starting berth in the team. He has been in blistering form in recent weeks. The 29-year-old has scored in five of the Gunners’ last seven Premier League matches.
Leandro Trossard emulates 1998 Arsenal hero Christopher Wreh
If Arsenal do go on to be crowned champions this season, then that triumph will owe a huge amount to Trossard’s efficiency in the final weeks.
His contribution is reminiscent of the impact that Christopher Wreh was able to have for the club when he came into the Arsenal team on a regular basis in the second half of the 1997/98 season. The Liberian forward produced some impressive performances, and chipped in with some vital goals, as the Gunners went on to win the Premier League title and the FA Cup.
Trossard has already been compared to Arsenal icon Freddie Ljungberg, who helped for the club to the title in 2002 with a late-season purple patch.
Leandro Trossard must be considered an Arsenal bargain
Arsenal paid just £27 million to sign Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion in the January of 2023. He has become a hugely important figure in Arteta’s squad and must now be considered something of a bargain.
Arsenal are now in talks to hand Trossard a new contract as a reward for his fine form.
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has called Trossard “fantastic,” and it is hard to argue against that assessment.