Meet Auston Trusty, the Arsenal defender who has never played under Mikel Arteta but just won Player of the Season award out on loan

American centre-back Auston Trusty, who has never played for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, recently won the Supporters' Player of the Season award at Birmingham City. Trusty joined the Gunners from MLS side Colorado Rapids in January 2022 but spent the remainder of the season on loan at the American club.

At the start of the 2022-23 season, Trusty was sent on loan to Championship side Birmingham City. He has since made 47 appearances for the club, helping them keep 13 clean sheets across competitions. He was recently named the Supporters' Player of the Season.

Auston Trusty posted a jubilant message on social media after receiving the honor. He wrote on Twitter:

"Supporters Player of the Season. Thank you to the club and fans that have made Birmingham feel like home since day one. I am so honored and grateful."

Trusty made his debut for the USMNT in March this year, featuring in their 7-1 win over Grenada.

"It’s been really, really awesome" - Arsenal loanee Auston Trusty recently spoke about playing in Europe

While Arsenal loanee Auston Trusty, 24, has ample experience of playing in the United States and the MLS, he had no prior experience of European football. The spell at Birmingham is his first experience on the continent.

Trusty recently reflected on his first season in Europe. The central defender said (via the Gunners' official website):

“It’s my first year over here in Europe and first time on loan, but I didn’t come here thinking this is just for a season, I came here thinking I want to make my mark on an organisation. I’m thankful that I have been perceived this way by the fans. It’s been really, really awesome."

Trusty added:

“Coming from the US I knew I would have to prove myself. I really was an unproven European player, I had to prove that I can hold my ground and do my job. Coming to the Championship and a team like Birmingham City that allowed me to show that was the best-case scenario.”

Whether Trusty's promising loan performances can persuade Mikel Arteta to hand the player a chance in Arsenal's first team next season remains to be seen. Given the Gunners will be playing in the UEFA Champions league next season, they will need a deeper pool of talents to manage the hectic schedule.