According to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal should be considered as potential contenders to sign Kylian Mbappé after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain was officially announced. However, Real Madrid is still the top choice to secure a deal.
Mbappé’s current agreement with PSG will end in June, and he has notified the team that he intends to depart at the season’s end. This could happen either by him waiting until his contract expires or by him choosing to extend it and allowing PSG to receive a transfer fee. While Real Madrid has expressed interest in signing him for a long time, they have not yet reached an agreement with Mbappé or his representatives, potentially creating an opportunity for an English club to make a move.
“When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation,” Arteta said, before referring to Real’s interest. “But … it looks to be in a different way.”
When questioned about Arsenal’s involvement in talks about Mbappé, he responded by saying, “I am not involved. Perhaps Edu and the owners are, but I am not part of those discussions until the final stage.”
Arteta did not try to downplay the possibility of signing Mbappé and emphasized that top players like him should always be considered for a rising Arsenal team. When asked if signing Mbappé was a possibility, he responded, “Why not? If we want to be the best team, we need the best talent and players.”
“Everybody wants to play for Arsenal. The players we have held discussions with, they always have that smile on their face the moment you open the door and start to have that discussion. That is because of our history and everything we have done in the past as well.”
Unfortunately, Arsenal will have to rely on their current team, who have achieved four consecutive victories with a total of 16 goals to two, for their upcoming match against Burnley at Turf Moor this Saturday. Arteta hinted that players such as Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Fabio Vieira may have recovered from their injuries and could possibly make a comeback. He also mentioned that Thomas Partey, who has been out since October due to a thigh injury, is making good progress and could potentially return in two weeks.
Arteta gave compliments to his close friend and ex-teammate from Manchester City, Vincent Kompany. He stated that Burnley, who are currently in 19th place, have had some unfortunate moments this season. He also mentioned his team’s determination to finish their title pursuit successfully. Arsenal is currently in third place, trailing the top team, Liverpool, by two points. They are confident that they have improved since their performance declined in the 2022-23 season.
“The upcoming fixtures hold great importance for us,” stated Arteta. “Each match will have a crucial impact on our goals. We have gained valuable lessons from the previous season.”
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Arteta showed worry for Roy Hodgson, the manager of Crystal Palace, who was hospitalized on Thursday due to feeling unwell. “I hope he is doing much better,” Arteta stated. “If that is the situation and knowing Roy, I believe he will return tomorrow because he has a strong passion for the game. However, we were all greatly concerned about the situation and I hope he is doing well now.”
Mikel Arteta’s assistant, the well-regarded Carlos Cuesta, is being sought after by Norwich and other Championship teams for higher positions in the upcoming season. Arteta sees this as a positive indication of their hard work and would not hold back Cuesta or any other Arsenal staff member if they wish to advance in their career.
“If that is their desire, it is not possible for you to comply – I would not either,” he stated. “I believe everyone should have a sense of direction and a plan for growth. People do not want to be stuck in the same role for an extended period of time. There are methods to motivate and encourage individuals, and then allow for exploration. You cannot truly gauge a person’s potential unless you expose them to new experiences. I believe curiosity is a valuable quality among our young employees.”
Source: theguardian.com
