Leandro Trossard is the latest Arsenal player to raise concerns over an injury ahead of the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest. The Gunners have already been dealing with several key injuries this season, including doubts over Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Ben White, and now Trossard.
Before the November international break, both Saka and Rice were forced to leave Arsenal’s Premier League game against Chelsea due to injury. Rice had been struggling even before the match and eventually withdrew from international duty after only 67 minutes of play.
Now, with Arsenal’s next game approaching, Trossard has also become a concern. The Belgian forward was substituted during his country’s Nations League defeat to Israel on Sunday, just 37 minutes into the match. Belgium’s coach, Domenico Tedesco, confirmed the injury, saying, “Today we lost Leo Trossard and Zeno Debast to injuries.” With Arsenal’s match against Nottingham Forest just days away, Trossard faces a race to recover in time.
If Trossard is ruled out for a few weeks, it could unintentionally benefit Arsenal. The 29-year-old has been used in a midfield role recently, but with Martin Ødegaard returning and the rise of Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Arteta has sufficient alternatives. Since his red card against Manchester City, Trossard has started seven of the last ten games but has not been particularly impactful, facing some criticism. A brief break from playing could allow him to regroup and come back stronger.
While Arteta would prefer Trossard to be fit, a short-term absence might actually help Arsenal in the long run. If the injury is minor, Trossard could return just in time for the busy holiday fixtures, which would be ideal for the team’s needs.
