Mikel Arteta’s Secret Weapon To Get Trossard Settled At Arsenal Exposed

Arsenal already have a secret weapon that could help Leandro Trossard kickstart his career at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s side appear to be closing in on the signing of Brighton’s wantaway winger Trossard.

Arsenal and Brighton have agreed to a £20million initial fee for the Belgium international, while the deal could reach £27million if all add-ons are met.

Trossard is reportedly undergoing a medical Friday morning, where he will also finalise personal terms with the Premier League table toppers.

Sky Sports news is claiming that the 28-year-old will sign a four-and-a-half-year contract at Arsenal, with the option to extend the deal for another year.

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If the signing is completed, as expected, the Gunners have a person among the backroom staff that could help the Belgian kickstart his career in north London in the person of Albert Stuivenberg.

Albert Stuivenberg

Albert Stuivenberg, Arsenal’s assistant manager, knows Trossard well having coached the attacker when he was manager of Genk in 2017.

The 52-year-old spent just a year in charge of the Belgian side, but in that time led them to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Indeed, Trossard played 28 games during Stuivenberg’s short tenure at Genk, scoring seven goals and providing a further four assists.

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‘Airpod Albert’

Stuivenberg took charge of Arsenal against Manchester City last year while Arteta was recovering from Covid.

However, he is better known to Arsenal fans for his tendency to wear one Airpod on the touchline.

The coach, who has been dubbed ‘Airpod Albert’, reportedly wears the device as he is usually on a three-way call during games.

Stuivenberg is usually on a call with fellow coaches Carlos Cuesta and Miguel Molina, with one normally sitting in the stands, analyzing the game.