Leandro Trossard says his connection with Bukayo Saka “comes naturally” and he is enjoying playing in a variety of positions for Arsenal.
The Gunners can qualify for the Champions League knockout stages as group winners with victory at home to RC Lens on Wednesday, live on TNT Sports.
Trossard has featured in all four of Arsenal’s Champions League games so far and has contributed to three goals – scoring twice and assisting once – while sometimes playing in different positions.
“I think it could be a different role every week!” Trossard told TNT Sports.
“I like it, to be honest, I don’t mind playing in different positions. I try to help the team in many equations, with a goal or an assist and try to win games.
“I’ve been playing so many positions already in my youth as well and I think throughout my whole career I’ve played multiple positions and it’s helped me to develop as a player as well.”
Predominantly used on the left of a front three, Trossard has also played as a striker and dropped deeper into midfield.
Asked what his preferred role is for the Premier League leaders, the 28-year-old found it difficult to pick a spot.
“My favourite role? If you had asked me a couple of years ago I would have probably said left wing, but at the moment, it’s so hard to tell because I enjoy playing everywhere up front at the moment even as a nine, an attacking midfielder, a left winger,” he admitted.
On whether he needed to take on board different instructions for different positions, he added: “I’m used to it now!
“At the start, it was a bit different. Obviously, you need to be switched on at every moment because you need to take in all the information, of course, but you get used to it.
“For me, I know all those positions and it’s not that it changes every week within the role itself, each role has specifics and I just know when I need to play in that role, I need to pay a bit more attention to the main things.”
Saka leads the way for Arsenal goal contributions and has scored six and assisted eight across all competitions.
All five of Trossard’s goals this season – three in the league and two in Europe – have been set up by Saka, and the Belgian puts it down to Saka’s ability with the ball in the final third.
“I think it’s a coincidence,” Trossard said. “It’s not that we’re saying before the game ‘We’re going to have a goal together today’, I think it just comes naturally.
“B [Saka] is so good with the ball and I just know when he is in a one-on-one situation, I know I need to be inside the box in a good position and I’ve been on the end of those balls a lot recently and hopefully, many more to come.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Leandro Trossard after scoring the team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and Sevilla FC at Emirates Stadium on November 08, 2023 in Londo
Image credit: Eurosport
On returning the favour, he added: “I want to do that as soon as possible. We’ve had some jokes about it and I need to feed him as well!”
Arteta will hope the pair will be firing in Europe once more as the Gunners look to wrap up top spot in Group B with a game to spare.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Arteta admitted the importance of getting the job done this week.
“We have the opportunity to do so at home, we have to finish it off,” he said. “We have a tough opponent in front, and we know because we already experienced that, so it will be a difficult game.
“Winning matches and always being the best in the group puts you in a much better position for the rest, it keeps momentum in a really good moment and tomorrow that’s what we want. Play well and earn the right to win the game.
“We know what we have to do, we have to prepare for the game to win it and finish top of the group and that’s the intention of the team.”
How to watch Arsenal v Lens?
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
Arsenal v Lens will be live on TNT Sports 2 with coverage from 19:00 UK time on Wednesday, November 29, with kick-off at 20:00.
