Arsenal suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in their Champions League match at the San Siro on Wednesday.
The match’s only goal came early in the second half, when Inter captain Hakan Calhanoglu successfully converted a penalty.
The penalty was awarded after Mikel Merino was penalized for a handball, sealing a narrow victory for the Nerazzurri and leaving Arsenal without points from the encounter.
This defeat follows closely on the heels of Arsenal’s recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, adding to the club’s recent challenges.
These consecutive losses have left Arsenal in a difficult position, as they are currently ranked 13th in their Champions League group.
The team struggled to produce any significant attacking play, and fans voiced their disappointment online, with Leandro Trossard facing some of the harshest criticism.
Belgian international Trossard, who joined Arsenal from Brighton last season for a reported fee of £27 million, was a valuable asset in his first season, scoring 17 goals across various competitions.
Recently, he has been given a more central role in Arsenal’s lineup due to captain Martin Odegaard’s ankle injury.
However, in the absence of Odegaard, Trossard has struggled to make an impact in this position, prompting fans to question his performance and suitability for the role.
Many supporters expressed their frustration on social media, with some suggesting that Trossard should not continue to start for Arsenal once the squad is fully fit.
One fan voiced their disappointment, writing, “I don’t want to see Trossard start for a long, long time when our squad is fully fit again.”
Another fan, questioning Arteta’s decision to keep Trossard in the starting lineup, sarcastically commented, “Trossard must have threatened Arteta to keep his spot; it’s the only explanation.”
Several fans criticized Trossard’s overall contribution in the game, with one observer noting his lack of impact in key areas.
They wrote, “Trossard is just useless in this role.
No 3rd-man runs, no outlet for Saka or White, no threat on the last line, no shots, no creativity… just nothing.”
Another fan also questioned Arteta’s decision-making, expressing frustration that Merino was substituted instead of Trossard, saying, “Merino should’ve stayed on. Why is Trossard still playing?”
Adding to the debate, another fan pointed out that Trossard’s goals last season might be overshadowing his recent performances, arguing, “I hope people stop letting Trossard’s goals cloud their judgment.
His overall quality in games is shockingly poor.”
Lastly, one user bluntly stated, “If Arteta is serious, Trossard should never start for Arsenal again.”
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain, made a brief return from his ankle injury, coming off the bench in the latter stages of the game against Inter.
Fans are hopeful that his full recovery and return to the starting lineup will help boost Arsenal’s recent lackluster performances.
