Arsenal's unsung hero sends message to Mikel Arteta amid transfer uncertainty

Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard during a training session. (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Martin Zubimendi might be the one to take the main headlines from Arsenal's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, although the contribution of Leandro Trossard can't go unnoticed, either.

Mikel Arteta's side were ruthless in their handling of opposition who had only appointed a new manager, Ange Postecoglou , days before the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Summer signing Zubimendi opened his Gunners account with a thunderous first-half volley to open the scoring. After the break, that was followed by Viktor Gyokeres , who applied a simple close-range finish to provide some breathing room.

But Arsenal did not let up there, and Zubimendi ensured he would end a personally memorable afternoon with a brace. The comfortable win pushed Arsenal to the top of the Premier League before any of their major rivals took to the field in the Premier League this weekend.

It was Trossard's curling cross that allowed Zubimendi to head in his second of the game - the Belgian's 50th goal involvement since moving from Brighton to north London in January 2023, according to Opta .

That total incorporates his past 28 goals in Gunners colours, plus 22 assists. Only Bukayo Saka , with 72, has been involved in more goals directly than the 30-year-old in that time.

For all the talk about Trossard potentially leaving the club this summer, the message sent to Arteta is clear; the winger seems to be just as committed to the Arsenal cause as ever, and still possesses the quality to step up as required.

Following their third consecutive season as the English top-flight's runners-up, the Gunners undertook extensive transfer work over the summer window.

Goal-scorer Gyokeres was selected to start alongside fellow new recruits Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, while Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard were only selected on the subs bench.

With Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka all to return from injury in future, the sheer extent of options at Arteta's disposal when all available means Trossard's place at the club has been under the microscope.

The Belgium international is now unable to complete a transfer to Turkey - because the summer window there closes on Friday night - but a switch to Saudi Arabia is still technically possible as their transfer window remains open until Tuesday, September 23.