When the history of Arsenal's 2025-26 Premier League title win is written — and it looks increasingly certain that it will be written — Leandro Trossard will deserve a prominent chapter. The Belgian forward has been the quiet engine of their run-in, and his goal at West Ham on Sunday was among the most important he has scored since arriving at the club. Trossard curled a left-footed effort into the corner to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead, a lead they protected with everything they had as the match descended into late drama and VAR controversy. In the moments when Arsenal needed someone to step up and provide a cutting edge, it was Trossard who answered.
This is a story that has become familiar over the past two years. Trossard is not the player whose name appears on the shirt sold in the most quantities. He is not the marquee signing or the talismanic figurehead. He is something arguably more valuable in a title race: the dependable, technically precise, tactically intelligent forward who can play multiple positions, start or come off the bench, and deliver in the moments that matter most. His goal record this season — 14 in all competitions — understates his contribution, because his work without the ball, his movement, and his creation for teammates are qualities that statistics do not fully capture.
The Player Arteta Trusts Most
Mikel Arteta has spoken before about the qualities he values in his players beyond pure goal output. Trossard embodies almost every one of them. He presses relentlessly, he understands the system inside out, and he has shown this season that he is mentally built for the pressure of a title challenge. When Arsenal have been at their most nervous — when results have been tight and the stakes have been highest — Trossard has not shrunk. He has been there, making the difference. That kind of personality is worth as much to a manager as any number of goals in early-season fixtures against mid-table sides.
There was a period earlier in his Arsenal career when questions were raised about whether he could sustain his contribution across a full campaign or whether he would always be a squad player making impact from the bench. Those questions have been definitively answered. Trossard has started the majority of Arsenal's most important matches this season and has met that challenge consistently. His versatility — able to play centrally, on either flank, or as a false nine — gives Arteta options that most managers can only dream of having from a single player. Belgian football produced a remarkable generation, and Trossard is one of its most underappreciated members.
What He Means for What Comes Next
If Arsenal do win the title — and they should — the summer will bring new challenges. Champions League expectations, potential significant transfer activity, the pressure of defending what they have won. Trossard will turn 31 in January. His contract at the club runs for another two years. At his current level, there is no reason he cannot continue to be a meaningful part of this squad for the duration of that deal. He will never be the story on the front of the newspaper, and you suspect he would not have it any other way. He just scores the goals that need scoring, and makes the runs that create the space for others. In a title-winning team, players like that are absolutely priceless.
Player profile: Leandro Trossard, age 30 (Belgium) | Club: Arsenal | Signed from: Brighton, January 2023 | Goals this season: 14 (all competitions) | Key moment: Winner vs West Ham, May 10 — 1-0 | Contract: Expires 2027 | Arsenal title odds: Strong favourites, 5pts clear with 2 games left.
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