Trossard on Everton winner: "I had to hit it!"

Matchwinner Leandro Trossard admitted he initially found it tricky to get into the game against Everton, but was thrilled his excellent goal won it.

The Belgian attacker was introduced after just 23 minutes when Gabriel Martinelli felt an issue with his hamstring, thrusting Leo into the heat of battle against a fully-fit Toffees team with the game finely poised.

But after taking a while to get up to speed, the attacker flourished after the restart and would take home the man of the match honours thanks to a superb strike on 69 minutes that proved to be enough to beat Sean Dyche’s team.

Speaking post-match about the mood in the dressing room, he said: “Everyone is happy of course, we really wanted to take the three points away from here, and we did. We’re really pleased for that.

“Obviously you always need to be ready [to come on] but it’s always tougher if you have to come on in a tough game as well, especially first half. They defended really well in the box, it was hard for us to get some clear chances, but then it was all about patience.

“I think we had some chances in the second half and then it’s about taking them and luckily we scored the goal. The moment I saw [Bukayo] getting the ball, I knew I had to get it. He laid it off really well for me and I had to hit it first touch and it went in nicely!”

The win sets us up well for the coming week, which will see us make our Champions League return against PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium, before the small matter of the first north London derby of the season against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

No that this game is in the bag, Leo revealed he can now look forward to playing in Europe’s premier competition for the first time, as well as experience a maiden derby day a few days later.

“I am really excited to be honest,” he said. “It’s my first game in the Champions League as well, so to do it with Arsenal is a pleasure. I am really looking forward to it.”