Leandro Trossard is the latest Arsenal star to pick up an injury while on international duty this season with the Belgian’s availability against Nottingham Forest placed in doubt
Mikel Arteta is facing an anxious wait to see if Leandro Trossard is fit for Saturday’s Premier League encounter versus Nottingham Forest having hobbled off during Belgium’s Nations League tie against Israel on Sunday night.
But the Arsenal boss, whose team are clinging on desperately in the title race, will have captain Martin Odegaard available and Declan Rice plus Bukayo Saka rested following an international break that, on the whole, has been less damaging than the previous windows.
Meanwhile, the search for Edu’s replacement as transfer chief is throwing up a number of rumours from former stars to big names abroad.
Here are the big stories from in and around Arsenal as the final international pause of the calendar year nears its conclusion.
Trossard fears
Leandro Trossard is also now a major doubt to feature against Nuno Espirito Santo ‘s side – who have made a flying start to the season – after he trudged off the pitch during the first half of Belgium’s match with Israel.
He will now potentially join defenders Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori and Kieran Tierney on the sidelines ahead of a fixture which could have major title repercussions even at this early stage of the season.
Arteta was, at least, boosted by the fact that Odegaard was able to withdraw from Norway duty this week after only just returning from injury.
But Trossard remains the latest big concern.
Odegaard saga
Arsenal were so keen to hide Martin Odegaard ’s recent injury that they even altered their own team photo.
The Norwegian playmaker has recently returned from the ankle injury that he picked up during the September international break. Odegaard made a substitute appearance against Inter Milan before returning to the starting line-up.
According to The Athletic, the Gunners placed a ball in front of Odegaard in the hope to obscure his clearly swollen ankle from the cameras when he first sustained the issue in September.
Campos considered
Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Campos is among the contenders to replace Edu at Arsenal, it has been claimed.
Technical director Edu left the club after five years, and is expected to link up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Brazilian, who also spent time on Arsenal’s books as a player, is understood to have rejected a last-gasp offer to keep him in North London.
A number of names have been mentioned as potential successors to the transfer chief, including former Arsenal stars Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky.
Invincibles star Gilberto Silva has also been asked whether he might step into the role having previously held a similar post with Panathinaikos.
But Campos is the strongest link in recent days.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Learn more
