Leandro Trossard just sent a crystal clear message to Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are just four games away from the greatest season in the club's entire history, so every player is surely fighting hard for a place in Mikel Arteta's starting lineup. Well, few have staked more of a claim in recent days than Leandro Trossard.

Left-wing has been a spot very much up for grabs all season long. Many Gooners believe it is a position that the club could upgrade in. Gabriel Martinelli has scored just one Premier League goal all season, albeit it could prove to be the most important, lobbing Gianluigi Donnarumma to salvage the last gasp equaliser against Manchester City in September. The Brazilian has meantime been excellent in the Champions League, but his lack of reliable end product frustrates supporters greatly.

Meantime, Arteta did not use Eberechi Eze in that role for months and months after the England international switched off for a millisecond to allow Matty Cash to open the scoring at Villa Park on 6 December. That then leaves Trossard, who was excellent during the first half of the campaign, scoring seven goals and bagging six assists between August and New Year's Eve.

However, since the 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa just after Christmas, the Belgian has not scored a single goal, which has clearly effected his confidence. This led to Trossard infrequently starting, before coming into the team last weekend against Fulham.

Well, in that game, he was outstanding. Trossard completed all six of his attempted dribbles, had four shots, created two big chances, produced two key passes and won eight duels; in summary, he was back to his very best. Well, with Arteta deploying an unchanged lineup against los Colchoneros, Trossard kept his place and once again impressed.

Yes the Belgian's goal draught is ongoing, but he certainly brings the best out of others, most notably Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish striker has looked like a totally different player in the last seven days, thanks in no small part to having Trossard and Saka either side. When Martinelli and Noni Madueke are out-wide, Gyökeres is simply stylistically too similar, hence why that trio just does not function.

Of course, a lot of focus is on the Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain at the Puskás Aréna, but the Gunners have three era-defining Premier League matches before then. Beat West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace and they will be champions for the first time in 22 years.

Once in Budapest, Arteta often favours Martinelli in big games, given the Brazilian's second to none off ball work rate. He also has six Champions League goals to his name this season, becoming the first player in the club's entire history to net in five successive appearances in the competition. Nevertheless, Trossard's displays against Fulham and Atleti have put himself to the front of the queue, making him undroppable for the remainder of May. Let's hope it's an historic four weeks.

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