Arsenal have been told why the form of one player could prompt the club to go into the transfer market for reinforcements amid an injury crisis for Mikel Arteta's side
Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has voiced his worries about Leandro Trossard's recent performances since the attacker's comeback from injury. The Belgium international has been instrumental in the Gunners' pursuit of the Premier League crown and other significant silverware.
Trossard has netted seven times in all competitions this campaign, with five of those strikes coming in the Premier League. Yet the 31-year-old hasn't found the back of the net in any competition since December, though he has laid on assists in his previous two Champions League outings to secure victories against Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan.
Trossard sparked fresh fitness fears for Arsenal during the international break after being pulled out of the Belgium squad. The Belgian FA said in a statement: "This decision will allow him to continue their rehabilitation under optimal conditions."
The forward joins Martin Zubimendi, Piero Hincapie, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber who have all withdrawn from their respective international squads amid potential fitness issues.
Trossard sat out two fixtures with a hip problem earlier this month but came back to feature from the start in the second leg against Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16, along with the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City. With Trossard only recently returning from injury earlier this month, Winterburn has outlined why he believes the forward has struggled to hit top form since his comeback.
"When we start throwing names around, we start to assume they'd want to join Arsenal. You have to be very, very careful,” Winterburn told AceOdds.com.
"I don't know how far we want to go back but let's go halfway through the season, I'd say Trossard was the wide player in form, with the most goals, I think and most assists or chances created. He switched a bit with [Gabriel] Martinelli, who had that unbelievable run of scoring in four-five games.
"Trossard was injured and I don't think he's come back to his highest level. Martinelli is in and out of the team.”
Winterburn also outlined why Arsenal might be sensible to consider bringing in a new wide forward this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mentioned as a possible target. “I suppose you'd say that if Arsenal are looking at upgrading a position, then it would be on that left hand side,” Winterburn said.
“That's not hiding from the fact or saying that the other two aren't good. They are good players but you're asking ‘would the club be looking at someone who can take it to the next level’?
“I think Mikel Arteta and the club would say that we're doing that with every position. Certain positions would be very hard to upgrade but you keep looking and keep trying because if the window opens for you to get somebody, you go ahead and take it.
"Kvaratskhelia, boy oh boy, if he knocked on the door and said I want to come to Arsenal, I don't think many people would say, 'no, thank you'. I think they'd be saying, 'if we can afford you, come on in'.”
Arsenal will be hoping that Trossard is fit and ready for selection following the international break, with the Gunners battling across three competitions when domestic action returns. The north London side have an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton this weekend before a Champions League quarter-final tie against Sporting Lisbon next week.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will continue their pursuit of Premier League glory when they take on Bournemouth on April 11, as they seek to preserve or extend their nine-point lead over Manchester City.