Leandro Trossard silences critics as Arsenal star stars in Belgium World Cup win

Leandro Trossard has answered his critics in emphatic fashion after inspiring Belgium to a convincing 5-1 victory over New Zealand, earning widespread praise from former internationals and pundits in his homeland.

The Arsenal forward had come under increasing scrutiny following underwhelming performances against Egypt and Iran, where he failed to register either a goal or an assist. However, Friday's World Cup clash produced a completely different story, with Trossard scoring twice before being substituted after 72 minutes.

Belgium's commanding victory secured their place in the knockout stages and marked what many observers believe was Trossard's finest performance for the national team.

According to Voetbal Primeur, Belgian television analysts were unanimous in their praise of the Arsenal winger after the final whistle.

Former Belgium goalkeeper Silvio Proto believes Trossard has finally produced the international display many supporters had been waiting to see.

"I'm delighted; this may well be the first time you can say he's played a top-class match for the national team.

"People always said that Trossard is very good, that he has qualities. But when he played for the national team, I was always left with the feeling that something was missing. I wondered when he would put in a top performance. Now he's done it."

Those comments reflected a wider feeling in Belgium that, despite his excellent club form over several seasons, Trossard had struggled to consistently reproduce those performances on the international stage.

Former Belgium defender Anthony Vanden Borre also believes Trossard has answered his doubters when it mattered most.

"It was an important match; he proved that he absolutely deserves his place in the starting line-up.

"When things aren't going quite so well, it's normal to want a bit more. But Rudi Garcia doesn't want to lose his player. That's the main reason."

Analyst Emiliano Bonfigli went even further, describing Trossard as Belgium's best performer at the World Cup so far following his influential display against New Zealand.

Having followed Arsenal throughout the past season, Trossard's response to criticism mirrors the resilience he has repeatedly shown at club level. The 31-year-old has often delivered in important moments for Mikel Arteta's side, and Belgium will hope this performance marks the beginning of a similarly decisive run on the international stage.

However, one outstanding display alone will not erase earlier criticism. Maintaining this level during the knockout rounds will ultimately determine how his tournament is remembered.

Belgium now turn their attention to the knockout stage, where the quality of opposition will increase significantly. After securing qualification in convincing fashion, Rudi Garcia is expected to keep faith with Trossard following his match-winning contribution.

For Arsenal supporters, the performance will also be encouraging ahead of the new Premier League season, with the experienced forward returning to form on one of football's biggest stages.

Can Leandro Trossard carry this form into the knockout rounds, or was this simply the performance Belgium had been waiting for?