Ben Foster Criticizes Arsenal for Selling Leandro Trossard
Ben Foster has torn into Arsenal’s decision to cash in on Leandro Trossard – and then gone all in on Manchester United to win the Premier League.
The former England goalkeeper admitted on talkSPORT he was stunned the champions allowed such a key squad figure to walk away, with Trossard joining Besiktas in a £15.3million deal this summer.
Trossard, 31, played a major role in ending Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a league title last season, finishing the campaign with six goals and six assists in the top flight. His versatility and knack for decisive contributions made him one of Mikel Arteta’s most trusted attacking options.
He wanted a new challenge after two-and-a-half seasons in north London. Arsenal agreed – but Foster cannot get his head around it.
“I don’t like the Trossard sale, I really don’t,” Foster said. “I think he’s such a big, influential player for them and I can’t believe they’ve sold him.”
Arsenal’s attacking gamble
Arsenal moved quickly to plug the gap, landing Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge in a £34m deal as a like-for-like option on the left.
Tzolis arrives with a strong reputation from the continent, but his only previous taste of English football – a two-year spell at Norwich City – hardly lit up the Premier League. The Greece international now walks into a title-winning dressing room with a sizeable price tag and an obvious comparison point in Trossard.
The Gunners had aimed even higher. They pushed hard for Vinicius Junior, believing they had a genuine chance of luring the Brazilian away from Real Madrid right up until last week. The door slammed shut when Vinicius signed a new long-term contract at the Bernabeu, leaving Arsenal to decide whether to pivot to an alternative before the window closes.
Foster, though, parked Arsenal’s ambitions to praise another big arrival in the division.
On Bruno Guimaraes’ move, he said simply: “Big signing, I like him a lot.”
United backed for title – if they spend again
For Foster, the title race is as open as it has been in years. No runaway favourite. No obvious juggernaut.
“I think it’s one of the hardest calls to make that we’ve had in recent years,” he said.
Pressed to nail his colours to a mast, the ex-Manchester United stopper didn’t hesitate.
“I’m going to say Manchester United,” he declared, leaning on the momentum generated under Michael Carrick at the end of last season.
“Last season’s form has set into motion a style of play and an expectation of what those players have to deliver week in, week out for Manchester United.
If they can add another one or two then Manchester United are definitely within a shout, but they need to add one or two big ones.”
Then came the reality check.
“The problem nowadays is that if you’re going to add one or two big ones then it’s £200m. Liverpool need a couple of big ones!”
Tielemans hailed as ‘signing of the summer’
Among all the money being thrown around, one deal stands out to Foster: Youri Tielemans’ switch to Old Trafford from Aston Villa.
“What a bit of business,” he said.
“I’ve watched a load of transfers happen, Tottenham spending a lot of money, Arsenal have just spent a lot of money, but I still think Youri Tielemans is the signing of the summer so far.
“For £30m (£35m), whatever it was, he is a ready-made, good-to-go, starting XI player and if you can spend that money on a ready-to-go starter then it’s worth every single penny.”
Foster still sees one glaring hole in United’s squad.
“I still think they need that one focal point striker, that one big boy striker. The problem is, where are you going to get it from? And it’s going to cost you £100m, it’s the way it goes nowadays.”
As Arsenal gamble on Tzolis to replace Trossard and lick their wounds from missing out on Vinicius, United’s summer looks far from finished. Foster has made his call on the title – now it rests on whether the Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to pay the price for that “one big boy striker.”
