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Eustace praised Trusty’s professionalism and attitude, and his desire to play for Arsenal could make him an attractive prospect for the Gunners. Trusty’s ambition could also lead other clubs to consider him for a transfer.

Returning to training just days after picking up a calf injury, Eustace said: “That really showed his commitment as a loan player, 100 per cent.

“What a fantastic professional, a fantastic player, he has been a great servant to us this season.

“Like I said last week, Friday he showed up and said ‘I’m ready to play.’ Fantastic attitude and her performance was brilliant too. We are very lucky to have good professionals here at the football club and Auston is certainly one of them.

“He is very robust, he is an athlete, very fit, a great professional, he has come from the United States and he is only experiencing soccer. He has no distractions. He goes home, watches football, comes back, plays football, eats the right things. He’s a true professional and I think he came back to the team last week, what a difference he made.

“I would love to keep it. I’m sure there’s a possibility, definitely, but it’s out of my control. All I can say is that I would love to keep him in the football club and I think all the fans would love to see him stay in the football club as well. When we want to build, those are the kind of characters we want here, so he would be at the top of my list.”

With much of the campaign still to come, Trusty has already made 39 appearances for Birmingham, playing over 3,500 minutes in all competitions.

However, speaking in February, Trusty was clear about where he sees his future.

Asked what his ambition was with Arsenal, Trusty said: “To get there and play every game.

“That’s the mindset I have. I want to go there, show what I can do and make my mark in the Premier League and on the team.

“It’s quite a stepping stone, but that’s the main goal. The sky is the limit really.”

Those comments followed Eustace again saying how much he would like to sign Trusty permanently.

“I would love to see him stay with the football club in the future,” said Eustace.

“I think everyone connected to Birmingham City would love him to be a part of club football, but we also respect that he’s an Arsenal player, a very good player, but it’s something we hopefully can push forward at the end of the season. “.

But it was also not the first time that Trusty made it clear that he wants to succeed at Arsenal.

Speaking in November, he said: “I’m in contact with them all the time and my mentality is to come to Arsenal and play for Arsenal.

“It’s probably the best club in the world right now and I’m excited about it.

“It’s the perfect place at the moment and I’m doing my thing, in an incredible organization in Birmingham. But, obviously, the objective is to play in the Premier League, to play in a first-class team. That’s where it is.”

Who is Austin Trusty?

Auston Trusty is an American professional soccer player who is currently on loan from Arsenal to Birmingham City. He was born on August 12, 1998 in Media, Pennsylvania, and began his youth career with the Philadelphia Union.

He signed a local player contract with the Philadelphia Union in 2016 and made his professional debut on March 5, 2017, in a game against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Trusty signed for Stan Kroenke’s Colorado Rapids in November 2019 before securing a €1.8m transfer to Arsenal in January 2022, before being loaned back to the Rapids for the remainder of the season.

Trusty was a mainstay on the Rapids’ back line during his second season in Colorado, playing in 33 games during the regular season and all 90 minutes of the club’s Western Conference Semifinal in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.

He was named Rapids Defender of the Year and also scored a goal and added three assists in 2021.

Trusty was called up to the US Men’s National Team’s January training camp in Arizona after the 2021 season.

He originally joined the Rapids in November 2019 via trade from the Philadelphia Union, where he spent four seasons after signing a homegrown player contract in 2016.

Trusty made his MLS debut in 2018 and became the youngest player in league history to play every minute for a full 34-game season that year at just 20 years old.