Trossard on Chelsea, Madrid, his mural and more

With Chelsea up next in the Premier League, Leandro Trossard will be chomping at the bit to add to his four goals in nine appearances against the Blues.

Should Leo play in Sunday’s 1.30pm kick-off at Emirates Stadium, he will also be making his 199th appearance in England’s topflight.

“It will be a tough game again,” he said earlier this week. “It's a big game for us as well. We want to win again, especially at home for the fans, just before the international break. It's a good test for us again leading into the international break and after that. I'm always up for those games. I love to play those big games as well. I will be there on Sunday as well and hopefully I can get a goal again.

“We always want to win the games, obviously, but you can tell from also the outside, everyone always wants to win those games. It's a big game for us. We want to win every game but especially those games. As I said, it's a big test and we want to win at home for our fans.

“Yesterday, someone told me that I'm two off of the 200. Yes, it's a big number already and I'm really pleased with that achievement. It's been great. When I first joined, it's a dream to play in the Premier League and then obviously we had a good success with Brighton as well, how we developed there and then obviously with the transfer to Arsenal, it's been really big for me.

“I think the intensity has been way more as well from six years ago, so I think the league is developing every year as well and you can see the quality in every team, how they are building their squad. So, yes, it's been really good for me.”

Asked to reflect on our season so far, Leo went on to talk about the belief in the dressing room that we can still make something special happen this season.

“Obviously we all know what happened this season with all the injuries and stuff. I think we're still competing at the highest level in the Champions League, we're second in the Premier League and yeah, our mindset has never changed. We want to win every game and that's still the thing now that into every game we want to win and starting with the game on Sunday again.

“You're always going to look back after. I think there will be more after the season because we have still a lot to play for, especially at the back end of the season. So this is where, yeah, it's going to be so tough as well, but we have to be ready for it. So, yeah, I think everyone is ready, who is available and fit to play and to help the team. So that's good as well.

“We all know what Real Madrid represent, especially in the Champions League, they've won 15 and every year they seem to be there again. So it will be a tough, tough fixture, but we are up for it. We were there last season and we want to go through this year and, yeah, we're looking forward to it.

“There’s a lot of belief. I think that's why, as a football player, you play for us, to be there at the biggest stage, those games, that's what you dream of as a kid. Yeah, we're up for it. It's a big, big game for us, two big games, and we want to get through and go as far as possible in the competition.”

"From the very first moment I joined the club, I always felt the love on the pitch"

Just hours after Myles Lewis-Skelly earned his first call-up to England’s senior national team, Leo was asked about him and Ethan Nwaneri, and what it’s been like to train with those two Hale End Academy graduates.

“We could see it before. Obviously, in the games they're so good. You can see now Myles got the call-up as well, so, yeah, fair play to him. He's been playing really well and he's showed it every single game, I would say. Also Ethan has showed his quality and he's still so young, so they can learn so much more, so they have a big, big future ahead of them.

“There is something you can tell also by the confidence they have on the pitch. A lot of times, younger players, they're a bit more shy if they come into a first team. They weren't, they just were there. They showed that they were there.”

Lastly, Leo also spoke about his connection with the Arsenal fan base, and what it’s like to see a mural of his own celebration outside Emirates Stadium!

“From the very first moment I joined the club, I always felt the love as well and on the pitch. That's why I want to give so much back as well in terms of goals, assists. It's the best feeling in the world when you're on the pitch and they shout your name and you can celebrate together a goal or whatever. I'm really, really happy here and I think I can enjoy that on the pitch as well.

“That's why you are playing football, for us to be remembered and also to play for them. At the end of the day, the club is built because of the fans. If they are not there, there's nothing to play for as well. You want to give something back and then it's nice if they give back as well. It's all love. We drive past the mural. We leave the stadium and stuff, so you see it and it's nice.”

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