Ben Foster Critiques Arsenal's Trossard Sale and Title Race Outlook

Ben Foster has taken aim at Arsenal’s summer business, insisting he “can’t believe” the Premier League champions allowed Leandro Trossard to walk out of the door.

The Belgian was a central figure in last season’s title triumph, chipping in with six goals and six assists in the league as Mikel Arteta’s side finally ended a 22-year wait to be crowned champions. He was a glue player, trusted in big moments, able to change games from the bench or from the start.

Trossard, though, wanted a new challenge. After two-and-a-half seasons in north London, he pushed for a move and got it, joining Besiktas in a £15.3 million deal that raised eyebrows as much for the fee as for the departure itself.

Arsenal had already moved to cover the loss. Christos Tzolis arrived from Club Brugge in a £34m transfer, billed as the like-for-like replacement on that left flank. The Greece international has been handed a major opportunity, but his previous taste of English football – a two-year spell at Norwich City – hardly suggested a guaranteed hit. The price tag only cranks up the scrutiny.

Arsenal’s ambition stretched beyond that. They had set their sights on a statement move for Vinicius Junior and, up until last week, believed they had a chance of luring the Brazilian away from Real Madrid. That dream evaporated when Vinicius signed a new long-term contract at the Bernabeu, leaving a question hanging over whether the Gunners will pivot to another attacking target before the window shuts.

Foster's Comments

Foster, speaking on talkSPORT, made his stance on Trossard crystal clear.

“I don’t like the Trossard sale, I really don’t,” the former England goalkeeper said. “I think he’s such a big, influential player for them and I can’t believe they’ve sold him.”

Arsenal’s rivals, meanwhile, have been busy. Manchester United landed Bruno Guimaraes, a deal Foster hailed immediately.

“Big signing, I like him a lot,” he said, underlining how highly he rates the midfielder’s impact on United’s evolving side.

Title Race Outlook

For Foster, the title race itself looks as open as it has been for years. No clear favourite. No obvious runaway.

“I think it’s one of the hardest calls to make that we’ve had in recent years,” he admitted, before nailing his colours to the mast.

Pressed to pick a champion, he went bold: “I’m going to say Manchester United.”

His reasoning leans heavily on the surge United produced under Michael Carrick at the back end of last season, a run that, in his view, reset standards at Old Trafford.

“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,” Foster said. “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.”

That, of course, comes at a price.

“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!” he added, summing up the financial reality at the top of the Premier League.

One signing in particular has caught his eye. United’s move for Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, in Foster’s view, might be the standout deal of the entire window.

“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.

“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, though, is not complete in his eyes. The missing piece is obvious.

“I still think they need that one focal point striker, that one big boy striker,” Foster said. “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.”

Arsenal, United, Liverpool, the rest of the chasing pack – all searching for that final, expensive piece. The season hasn’t even started, and already the margins at the top look brutally thin.