Arsenal baffle fans with Leandro Trossard contract decision

Leandro Trossard has agreed a new contract with Arsenal, as per the Athletic, with terms that are frankly baffling.

The Belgian's new deal will see him earn a significant pay rise, but no extension to his current terms, meaning the expiration date of his Gunners contract still sits as 2027. It is said to reflect his valued role within Mikel Arteta's squad.

Having initially been linked with a move away from north London this summer, Trossard now looks to be staying put at Arsenal and the manner in which he remains is confusing.

Leandro Trossard agrees new Arsenal contract

Trossard had been in talks with the club over a new contract since the conclusion of last season, with initial reports suggesting he would sign a long-term deal, keeping him in north London until 2030.

Those talks stalled however and that prompted fans to theorise the most likely outcome would be the 30-year-old leaving Arsenal during the transfer window.

With Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund among the clubs interested, speculation of Trossard's departure was only fuelled by the Gunners' desire to sign a left winger with most feeling he would be the player to make way for such an incoming.

However, he has now agreed a new contract and that means he is likely set to stay for at least this season. The decision to hand him a new deal with improved financial terms, but not longevity was not particularly well received by fans.

Arsenal have somewhat backed themselves into a corner by handing Trossard a deal with these terms. The initial willingness to hand him a new contract was a bit strange to begin with, but to give an aging player more money without a fresh commitment to the club will make it very difficult to eventually sell him.

The Gunners' decision is simply very confusing and strange. Of course, Trossard is a great player and he can still offer so much to the club, but he showed with a minor regression last season that he is slowly losing his ability with age and that will continue to happen despite his new contract.

It's clear that he isn't a crucial part of Arteta's plans with Gabriel Martinelli remaining the first-choice left wing option and Noni Madueke brought in as cover, with another addition still possible. Trossard didn't come off the bench in the opening win against Manchester United and that could be a recurring theme throughout this season.

Arteta, Andrea Berta and everyone else involved may have dug themselves a bit of a hole with this one.

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