Ben Foster Critiques Arsenal's Sale of Leandro Trossard

Ben Foster has torn into Arsenal’s decision to cash in on Leandro Trossard this summer, insisting the Premier League champions have lost one of their most important dressing-room figures.

Trossard, 31, was a key cog in Mikel Arteta’s title-winning side last season, chipping in with six goals and six assists as Arsenal finally ended a 22-year wait to lift the league trophy. He was rarely the headline act, but constantly in the frame: a starter when needed, a game-changer off the bench, a safety net when others misfired.

He wanted a new challenge. Arsenal let him have it.

The Belgian pushed for a move after two-and-a-half seasons in north London and sealed a £15.3 million switch to Besiktas, a fee that raised eyebrows given his impact and experience.

Arsenal move on from Trossard

Arsenal did not step into the new season blind. They had already lined up Christos Tzolis as a like-for-like replacement on the left flank, bringing in the Greece international from Club Brugge for around £34m.

Tzolis arrives with a point to prove. His previous spell in English football with Norwich City never really caught fire, and the Emirates will demand more than promise and potential for that kind of fee.

Foster, though, cannot get past the player they have just lost.

‘I don’t like the Trossard sale, I really don’t,’ the former England goalkeeper told talkSPORT as he ran through Arsenal’s summer business. ‘I think he’s such a big, influential player for them and I can’t believe they’ve sold him.’

Arsenal had hoped to add another superstar to their forward line. They pushed hard for Vinicius Junior, confident for a long stretch that they could tempt the Brazilian away from Real Madrid. That optimism vanished when Vinicius signed a new long-term deal at the Bernabeu last week, leaving Arsenal weighing up whether to pivot to an alternative attacking target before the window closes.

Foster backs Guimaraes and hails Tielemans

While unconvinced by Trossard’s departure, Foster did like one major arrival in the Premier League.

On Bruno Guimaraes’ move – after his own high-profile switch this summer – Foster was emphatic: ‘Big signing, I like him a lot.’

The 41-year-old, who spent part of his career at Manchester United, believes the transfer market could define a title race he views as wide open.

‘I think it’s one of the hardest calls to make that we’ve had in recent years,’ he said, assessing the contenders.

Pressed to nail his colours to a mast, he went with his former club.

‘I’m going to say Manchester United,’ Foster declared. ‘Last season’s form has set into motion a style of play and an expectation of what those players have to deliver week in, week out for Manchester United.’

For him, the platform is there. The squad, not quite.

‘If they can add another one or two then Manchester United are definitely within a shout, but they need to add one or two big ones,’ he added. ‘The problem nowadays is that if you’re going to add one or two big ones then it’s £200m. Liverpool need a couple of big ones!’

And in Foster’s eyes, United may already have pulled off the smartest piece of business of the summer.

Tielemans dubbed ‘signing of the summer’

Youri Tielemans’ move from Aston Villa to Old Trafford has impressed plenty of observers. Foster goes further.

‘What a bit of business,’ he said. ‘I’ve watched a load of transfers happen, Tottenham spending a lot of money, Arsenal have just spent a lot of money, but I still think Youri Tielemans is the signing of the summer so far.’

The numbers only strengthen his view.

‘For £30m (£35m), whatever it was, he is a ready-made, good-to-go, starting XI player and if you can spend that money on a ready-to-go starter then it’s worth every single penny.’

United’s rebuild, in his mind, still has one glaring hole.

‘I still think they need that one focal point striker, that one big boy striker. The problem is, where are you going to get it from? And it’s going to cost you £100m, it’s the way it goes nowadays.’

So Arsenal roll into the new campaign without Trossard, banking on Tzolis and dreaming of one more marquee name. United stride in with momentum, Tielemans in midfield and a title prediction from one of their former goalkeepers ringing in their ears.

The question now is simple: who has gambled correctly?