Walcott Left Eating His Words Over Trossard's Impressive Arsenal Campaign

Theo Walcott has admitted he got it wrong about Leandro Trossard, with the Belgian winger proving to be far more than just a squad rotation option at Arsenal this season.

When transfer gossip suggested Trossard might follow Gabriel Martinelli out of the club, Walcott reckoned the left-wing berth was up for grabs. Instead, both players have thrived under Mikel Arteta, and it's Trossard's performances that have most caught the former winger's eye.

"They've both really picked up their levels," Walcott told Amazon Prime after Arsenal's commanding 3-1 Champions League demolition of Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday evening. "It's been a kind of 'I'll score more than you' but in a good way."

The Belgian has accumulated 14 goal involvements across 27 appearances in all competitions, a tally that reflects his growing importance to the Gunners' attack. But what's impressed Walcott most is Trossard's unpredictability and composure in possession.

"Martinelli has pace, and you can't teach that," Walcott explained, "but Leandro picks up spaces, and what I really like about him is he's so calm. You're not quite sure what you're going to get from him, and he's been so consistent and it's really surprising."

Wayne Rooney echoed the sentiment, highlighting Trossard's tactical intelligence. "He drifts into the number ten position, at times he stays out wide," Rooney noted. "He can use both feet and scores big goals, so I think he's been excellent."

Arsenal maintained their perfect record in Europe's premier competition with the San Siro victory, courtesy of a Gabriel Jesus double and Viktor Gyokeres' third Champions League goal of the campaign. The result keeps the Gunners at the summit of the league phase with seven wins from seven, whilst they also sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City.

Arteta reflected on the performance with satisfaction. "We talked before the game that we needed a special performance, a very complete performance against a top side and we certainly done that tonight," the Arsenal boss said. "The way we manage the game, the way we control the game in a very good way and we knew that we were going to have to do that on the pitch and through the subs."