Arsenal forward, Leandro Trossard, made an early exit from Belgium’s stunning 1-0 loss to Israel on Sunday night, visibly distressed as he signalled to the bench for a substitution just 36 minutes into the match.
The 29-year-old, who had not been involved in any physical clashes, appeared to be in discomfort as he walked off the pitch through the haze of smoke from flares.
Belgium’s head coach Domenico Tedesco later disclosed that Trossard had been dealing with discomfort prior to the game.
Tedesco, who was relieved of his duties following the match, reflected on the injury setback and the overall performance. He remarked, “It was a difficult game for a number of reasons.”
Tedesco highlighted the challenges his squad faced, noting, “The players we brought out had never played or trained together.” The injury issues compounded during the match, with Trossard and Zeno Debast both forced off.
Addressing the circumstances, he added, “There were a lot of injuries before the game, and we also lost Trossard and [Zeno] Debast during the game. It wasn’t a good game, but the conditions were very difficult.”
Despite playing the full 90 minutes in Belgium’s unsuccessful outing against Italy just three days earlier, Trossard assured the medical team he was ready to start.
However, his early exit highlighted that the decision to feature him from the beginning may have been a misjudgment.
Trossard’s injury adds to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s mounting concerns as the international break has exacerbated fitness woes within his squad.
Arteta had already sounded the alarm after Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both hobbled off during a 1-1 draw with Chelsea the previous week.
Reflecting on their conditions, Arteta warned ominously, “It doesn’t look good.” Both players were among nine withdrawals from Lee Carsley’s England squad for the international fixtures.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who completed the entire game against Chelsea, has also been dealing with fitness issues. The Norwegian midfielder opted out of international duty to focus on his recovery from an ankle sprain, an injury that had sidelined him for a month prior to his return just before the break.
In consultation with Norway’s medical staff, Odegaard explained his decision, “I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape.”
The club hopes he will be ready for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest, alongside Saka and Rice.
However, Arsenal’s injury list continues to grow, with right-back Ben White expected to face a lengthier absence.
The defender underwent minor knee surgery during the international break, making his availability uncertain for the coming weeks. White had abstained from England duty to address his knee problem, prioritizing his recovery.
Trossard, who had been filling in for Odegaard in midfield, has struggled to replicate the captain’s playmaking prowess. Despite his versatility, the Belgian forward has yet to register a Premier League assist this season and has seen his starting role on the left flank taken by Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta’s options remain constrained as he juggles these mounting injury setbacks ahead of a critical stretch of fixtures.
