If he is a good signing, he will help Arsenal win. When you bring players to a big club, they have to perform exceptionally well, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.’
William Gallas has expressed serious reservations about Arsenal’s most expensive January signing, Leandro Trossard.
The Gunners added three new faces to a squad that desperately needed reinforcements if they were to maintain their unlikely title challenge.
Defender Jakub Kiwior will provide a viable alternative to Gabriel Magalhaes, who has started every league game this season, while Jorginho will bolster a midfield department that has become increasingly reliant on Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.
Meanwhile, Arsenal had planned to break their transfer record in order to sign Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, but were outmatched by Chelsea, who hijacked the deal.
Mikel Arteta quickly turned his attention to Belgium international Trossard, but former Arsenal captain Gallas is concerned that the former Brighton star will struggle to cope with the demands of representing a much larger club.
‘I’m not sure if Leandro Trossard is a good signing,’ he told Gentingcasino. He has a high profile, just like his teammates, but the question is whether he can raise his game at a bigger club.
‘If he is a good signing, he will help Arsenal win. When you bring players to a big club, they have to perform exceptionally well, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.’
Meanwhile, Mudryk has had a mixed start to his Chelsea career, impressing on debut against Liverpool before being hauled off at half-time during last Friday night’s stalemate against Fulham.
Graham Potter explained that the Ukraine international had a cold, but regardless of his fitness, Gallas believes the 22-year-old will regret not signing for Arsenal.
‘Mudryk may have made a mistake, but he had the opportunity to play for Arsenal,’ he added.
‘The way Arsenal play, he would have fit into that squad, and he may regret it at the end of the season. What happens if Chelsea fails to qualify for the Champions League?
‘In the end, Arsenal may be champions. Maybe he’ll regret it at the end of the season. It could have been an opportunity for him to perform well and compete in the Champions League the following season.
‘However, Arsenal will have to move on, and they will now have the opportunity to bring in new players in order to play with the players they want.’