Arsenal legend says Mikel Arteta is making £17m transfer mistake: 'I'm surprised'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal

legend Alan Smith fears

Mikel Arteta

has already made a major mistake in the summer transfer window.

Arteta is hoping to oversee a productive transfer window as Arsenal turn their attentions to the

defence of their Premier League title

The Gunners are expected to back Arteta with at least three major signings and have expressed interest in the likes of Julian Alvarez, Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola.

While wary of weakening his squad at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta could also sanction exits for a number of players who he believes are either past their best or capable of being replaced.

Bellingham has stood tall for Thomas Tuchel (Picture: FIFA via Getty)

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Martinelli

Ben White

and

Kepa Arrizabalaga

have all been linked with summer moves, while fellow title winner

Leandro Trossard

is set to leave.

Trossard

attracted interest from Besiktas and clubs in Saudi Arabia

after the season ended and is close to agreeing personal terms with the Turkish giants.

Arsenal have also

agreed a deal with Besiktas worth around £17m

after failing to come to terms with Belgian winger Trossard over a contract extension.

Leandro Trossard is set to leave Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Smith is ‘surprised’ by Arsenal’s decision to sell Trossard, however, and says it will be ‘very difficult’ to replace the 31-year-old with a similar fee.

‘Do you think Arsenal get a better squad player than Leandro Trossard for that sort of money? Difficult, very difficult,’ Smith told

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‘I think, when you see what he’s contributed over the years, he scored some big goals. He got the only goal at West Ham in that vital match towards the end.

Arsenal legend Alan Smith (Picture: Getty)

‘The fans love him, always singing Leo, and they’ll be sad to see him go, I think. I was a bit surprised.

‘Maybe Trossard wanted to go, maybe there was an offer there and he thought he had done his bit in England.

‘You never know what’s behind the scenes, but yeah, I think the fans certainly will be sorry to see him go.’

Trossard will complete his move away from Arsenal after the World Cup, with

Belgium facing European champions Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday

Ex-Brighton star Trossard has made 174 appearances for Arsenal since his

£27m arrival in 2023

The Belgian played in 31 of Arsenal’s 36 Premier League games last season as Arteta

guided the Gunners to their first title since 2004

Trossard started

Arsenal’s Champions League final against PSG in May

but was subbed off late on before the penalty shootout defeat.

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