Ferdinand's Plea for Arsenal's Unsung Hero
Manchester United legend and pundit Rio Ferdinand has made a passionate appeal to Arsenal supporters, urging them to show more appreciation for the ‘ridiculous’ form of forward Leandro Trossard. This comes in the wake of the Gunners' emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a one-sided north London derby on Sunday, November 24, 2025.
A Derby Day Masterclass
The victory at the Emirates Stadium allowed Arsenal to maintain their six-point lead at the Premier League summit, in what was described as their most convincing performance of the season so far. While the headlines were rightly stolen by hat-trick hero Eberechi Eze, who secured the man of the match award with the first derby hat-trick since 1978, it was Trossard who set the tempo for the crushing win.
The Belgian international opened the scoring and provided a crucial assist, effectively putting the contest to bed with an energetic and effective display that caught Ferdinand's expert eye. His performance was a testament to his decision to stay and fight for his place at the club during the summer, despite interest from Fenerbahce and the Saudi Premier League and increased competition from new signings like Noni Madueke and Eze.
Arteta's Forbidden Departure and Trossard's Big-Moment Mentality
Discussing Arsenal's formidable squad depth on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand was unequivocal in his praise. ‘Trossard has been ridiculous,’ he stated. ‘He doesn’t get the love he deserves from Arsenal fans because his goal contributions since he signed, only [Bukayo] Saka has got more. Important goals he scores, whether it be an equaliser or a late winner, his input has been a joke. He needs massive, massive props.’
Manager Mikel Arteta revealed he never entertained the idea of Trossard leaving, calling the potential departure ‘forbidden’. ‘No chance,’ Arteta said. ‘I know the player that he is, and surrounded with the players that we have, he’s a player that is going to make a difference for us. I fully agree, it was one of his best games, so aggressive with and without the ball, so effective.’
Trossard's value has been particularly highlighted during Arsenal's recent injury crisis, making his consistent presence invaluable. This big-game temperament is a trait he has shown repeatedly over his three years at the club. After the match, Trossard commented on the importance of his early goal: ‘I enjoyed that a lot! I think it was important to get that goal. After that it gave us the edge to go on and score more goals... It was a perfect night for us.’
With performances like this, the under-the-radar star is finally getting the recognition his contributions have long deserved.
