'Don't know what's going on': Legend baffled by £27m Arsenal star who flops for his country

After another stellar showing in Arsenal red, questions about the £27 million man’s rather middling displays on the international stage arose once again.

Why, the critics ask, is he so influential for the Premier League giants when he struggles to exert the same sort of influence for his country?

And what can Domenico Tedesco learn from Mikel Arteta as the Belgium boss looks to help Leandro Trossard emulate his sparkling Arsenal form for the Rote Duivels?

The former Brighton and Hove Albion forward was one of the big disappointments of Belgium’s underwhelming Euro 2024 campaign. He neither scored a goal nor created an assist on German soil, with Trossard just as ineffective on the left-hand side as he was on the right.

Compare that with Trossard in Arsenal red – dynamic and occasionally devastating – and the concerns are understandable to say the least.

Belgium hero questions Leandro Trossard amid flying Arsenal form

“He has already had his chance in different positions,” sighs Belgium icon Marc Degryse, Trossard’s needless red card in the draw with Manchester City now at the back of the mind again.

“But we have never seen the Trossard of Arsenal with the Devils.

“I don’t know what is going on in his head. Maybe he feels more comfortable at Arsenal? [Maybe] he needs a reference match with the national team, just like Lois Openda.”

Questions have been asked of Openda too of late, the RB Leipzig striker prolific for his club but profligate for his country.

Degryse wonders if both he and Trossard would be better served playing alongside a talented link-man capable of dropping deep and opening up spaces for runs in behind, a la Kai Havertz at Arsenal and Benjamin Sesko at Leipzig.

Romelu Lukaku, his own form taking a dip of late on the international stage, is less of an old-school centre-forward than the ethereal, mobile Havertz, with whom Trossard has struck up such an understanding.

Martin Keown labels former Brighton star an Arsenal bargain

Degryse insists that there is no question that Trossard deserves to keep his place in the Belgium squad, however. Toby Alderweireld, the former Rote Duivels stalwart and Tottenham Hotspur icon, agrees, even if Trossard may struggle to nail down a starting role unless his fortunes change.

“He absolutely has to be there [in the squad],” Alderweireld argues. “Not necessarily as a starter but that’s something else.

“He has been decisive in recent weeks for a big club like Arsenal.”

After scoring against Leicester City last Saturday, Trossard provided a sumptuous assist as Arsenal defeated PSG 2-0 in the Champions League.

Gunners duo Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka hit the target at the Emirates, Trossard setting up the former with a brilliant delivery which left Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded.

“What a buy Leandro Trossard was!,” Martin Keown, a three-time Premier League champion under Arsene Wenger, told BBC Sport after the French giants were vanquished in North London.

“Worth every penny.”