Auston Trusty’s Arsenal career wasn’t exactly a long one, with the defender joining the Gunners in early 2022 and leaving in the summer of 2023.
The defender spent the first few months of his Arsenal spell back on loan with the Colorado Rapids, before making another loan move to Championship Birmingham City in 2022/23.
The loan spell went very well, earning Trusty interest in a permanent transfer to Premier League side Sheffield United.
Arsenal made the decision to sell, receiving a quick profit on their initial investment, but preventing Trusty from ever playing a competitive fixture for the club.
All the same, the 25-year-old says he’s pleased with how it all panned out.
“I’m happy how everything turned out,” Trusty said in a pre-match interview about his time at Arsenal.
“I signed at Arsenal from the Colorado Rapids, went back on loan there for six months, and then came here (to England) to Birmingham City.
“Would I have loved to play at Arsenal and play Premier League minutes for them? Yes, I would have loved that. However, I got Premier League minutes here at Sheffield United.
“So, me signing with them (Arsenal) and getting opportunities to come overseas and go to Birmingham City and show myself there and show myself in England and to Europe.
“One, it was a dream come true, but also it gave me opportunities to come to a historic club like this.
“So yes, I would’ve loved to have played Premier League minutes for them, but also I can be nothing but thankful for my time there and it’s given me opportunities. I look at it only as a positive.”
All the same, Trusty admits he’d like to get one over on his former club this weekend if he gets the chance, to show them what they’re missing.
“Of course,” Trusty said. “You know, that’s every footballer’s dream when you leave a team, you want to show them that I can play and you guys are kind of missing out. That’s kind of the mindset.”
Trusty is very likely to play in the fixture, given Sheffield United’s extended injury list at the moment. The away side could be missing 10 players when they visit the Emirates Stadium.
With Sheffield United bottom of the Premier League, Arsenal will feel this is a must-win game. Trusty will come to the Emirates with nothing to lose.