​Mikel Arteta was adamant the club should keep Leandro Trossard last season, but now Arsenal’s priorities have changed and their recent silverware warrants splashing the cash on younger forwards to stabilise their spot at the summit.Leandro Trossard has left Premier League champions Arsenal after spending three-and-a-half years in North London. The 31-year-old is joining Turkish giants Besiktas for an agreed £17 million fee.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith only one year until his contract expired, Arsenal’s decision to cash in now has justification behind it, and Trossard can leave for pastures new knowing his role in the club’s title-winning campaign was substantial. Arsenal’s sale ensures they recoup just shy of all the funds from their £21 million purchase from Brighton for Trossard in January 2023.Representing Belgium at the World Cup across the Atlantic, he netted twice in the 5-1 group stage victory over New Zealand. He delivered the cross for Youri Tielemans to rise highest and score his side’s late equaliser against Senegal in the round of 32, and registered another assist against co-hosts USA, before former colleague Mikel Merino ensured Spain overcame Belgium in the quarter-finals.Of all the players in the World Cup group stages, Trossard topped the charts for the most chances created, epitomising how he pulled the strings and sparked the creative impetus for the Red Devils. For his club, Trossard amassed 50 appearances last term in a Gunners shirt across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists, including two standout contributions at the business end of the season.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs the trepidation of Manchester City knocking them off their perch grew, Trossard sparked euphoria with his winning goal at West Ham United in the 83rd minute. Even though Arsenal agonisingly fell to defeat on penalties against PSG in the Champions League final to miss out on the double, Trossard provided the assist for Kai Havertz’s opener. These moments will spring to mind when fans recall Trossard’s spell, but he brought so much more to Arsenal during his three-and-a-half-year stay.His most successful season in terms of attacking output came in his first full campaign, when he recorded 17 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions. Throughout his time in North London, Arteta recognised Trossard’s impact from the bench, as underlined by when he became the first player to ever score his first three goals for the club as a substitute.His knack for finding goalscoring opportunities by cropping up in various positions made him a valuable asset that Arteta grew a soft spot for, understandably approving Trossard’s versatility and clinical edge in key moments. Arteta’s wingers are conditioned to track back and support their full-backs, which was a demand imposed to keep their defensive fortitude intact, and Trossard’s dedication out of possession represents this principle.Trossard