Mikel Arteta believes Leandro Trossard "takes a lot of responsibility in games" in a glowing review of Arsenal's newest hero.
Trossard, 28, has scored one goal and provided seven assists in the Premier League since joining the Gunners from Brighton in January. The Belgium international's latest assist came during their 4-1 victory against Leeds at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal were criticised for signing Trossard instead of Mykhaylo Mudryk, who joined Chelsea, in the last transfer window. Yet Trossard's displays have vindicated their decision, with Mudryk providing just one assist since his £88million move to Stamford Bridge.
As just £28m, Trossard is a candidate for bargain of the season and could help Arsenal secure a first Premier League title in 19 years this May. Saturday afternoon's result leaves them eight points ahead of Manchester City in second having played a game more.
During his post-match press conference on Saturday afternoon, Arteta was asked if he thought Trossard would have made such an impact in his "wildest dreams". Smiling, the Arsenal manager cheekily replied, "I have very wild dreams!"
That led to laughter in the room before Arteta added, "No, seriously, we knew about his quality and what he could bring to the team. We are really pleased with him. He can play right, left; he can play as an attacking midfielder, as a nine, false nine.
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"He's really contributing to the team. He really takes a lot of responsibility in games to make things happen - and we love that."
Arteta knows Arsenal are just nine games away from winning the Premier League title. The Gunners do not have an easy run in - with trips to Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle on the horizon - but their manager is confident of success.
"Just enjoy the moment that we are in," added Arteta. "We have nine games to go but [on Monday] we have a training session that is going to enable us to be better as a team, and if we go through the journey day by day, when the game comes we are in a state of mind and you are really looking forward to it.
"You have oxygen to grab instead of gasping, and we just want that energy and belief. We go to the next target and we go for it."
Arsenal took the lead against Leeds when Gabriel Jesus converted a first-half penalty. Ben White doubled their advantage shortly after the interval before Jesus, who made his first Premier League start in nearly five months, completed his brace. Rasmus Kristensen pulled a goal back for Leeds, but Granit Xhaka's header quashed any risk of a comeback.
Arteta was also asked whether Arsenal's remaining games will feel like cup final. He replied, "No, they feel like just another game. It feels like the next training session, and we go again to the next game. Finals are played in May, we don’t have any finals today!"
