He must be sold: Arsenal star dropped awful 5/10 display for his nation
The international break came at the right for Arsenal. Trailing the league by 12 points, they’ve needed some time off to reset and prepare for a busy few final months of the season.
While the Premier League title now feels impossible, their chances in the Champions League are not done and dusted just yet. However, they do face Real Madrid. Good luck, Mikel Arteta.
Before then, they will hope for a fitter squad. Gabriel Martinelli is back in action now and Bukayo Saka’s return isn’t too far off.
They will be missing Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus though, two long-term absentees who won’t play again this season.
As a result, they will need to find more fortune in the final third. Finding form for your country could be key.
How Arsenal’s players are performing for their country
The biggest story of this international break has undoubtedly been Thomas Tuchel’s first match in the Wembley dugout with England.
It wasn’t too much of a rip-roaring start, beating Albania 2-0, but there was a Three Lions debut for 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The teenager started at left-back and made an almighty impact, notably scoring the first goal of the Tuchel era, running in behind and getting on the end of a beautiful Jude Bellingham pass before finding the back of the net.
It was a magical moment. Only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney have scored goals at a younger age for England.
Declan Rice also played a part in that win, assisting Harry Kane’s 70th England goal.
Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori was injured with Italy and we still await a prognosis of a knee injury after the defender fell awkwardly last week and twisted his leg.
Fellow defender William Saliba kept a clean sheet on Sunday night, subsequently helping France to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals after defeating Croatia. Mikel Merino scored last week against the Netherlands as La Roja sealed their place in the last four too.
That said, it hasn’t been productive for everyone away with their country. Just ask Leandro Trossard.
Leandro Trossard’s performances for Belgium
This has been a tough season for Trossard who should have been able to kick on after a brilliant 2023/24 campaign.
Only Saka scored more (20) than Trossard’s haul of 17 goals in all competitions throughout last term but he’s underwhelmed significantly through 2024/25.
The Belgian has found the net on six occasions and posted seven assists in 43 games but his recent record leaves plenty to be desired, scoring just once in his last 13 appearances at club level.
That record has now stretched to 15 matches for club and country, failing to net in Belgium’s recent matches against Ukraine, an initial 3-1 defeat and then a 3-0 win on Sunday.
In those games, the wide forward failed to deliver, with Belgian media notably unhappy with his performances.
In the first fixture against Ukraine, Belgian outlet Walfoot noted that ‘Trossard was only a shadow of the player he can be at Arsenal (and was at Brighton).’
Meanwhile, after the 3-0 win over the weekend, Voetbalkrant handed a 5/10 match rating, writing: ‘He was deployed as right forward, but roamed everywhere in a free role. His efforts left much to be desired and he really wasn’t in the game. Too weak.’
It continues a pretty wretched run of form for the 30-year-old who is playing himself out of the team, not just for his country but for his club too.
With Saka set to return before too long, the Belgian could well find himself behind the likes of Nwaneri, Martinelli and the club’s iconic number 7.
There is said to be interest from Saudi in Trossard and over the summer, Arteta and Co simply have to be looking at cashing in on the attacker.
His recent run, including over the international break, proves he’s no longer good enough for the Gunners.
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