Mikel Arteta hasn’t ruled out bringing Henrikh Mkhitaryan back to Arsenal next season and says he’s always liked the midfielder.
It was something of a surprise when the Gunners sanctioned the midfielder’s exit just hours after he appeared in the North London derby in September.
Mkhitaryan seems to be enjoying himself at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring six goals and making three assists in 13 appearances and has since made clear life at the Emirates. wasn’t working for him.
Not long after his move, he said:“The last month at Arsenal I was not getting pleasure, so that’s why I said it was better to come to Roma and to get happy and to get the pleasure from playing football again.”
Mkhitaryan is likely to be available this summer if a suitor meets our asking price and both he and Roma have flirted about turning their current arrangement permanent.
For the time being, the boss says Mkhkitaryan, against whom he played on several occasions, could bring something to the Gunners.
“I always liked him,” Arteta told Goal.com ahead of Saturday’s game with West Ham.
“He is the kind of player who can fit in any team when he is at his best, he needs to do it consistently and that’s what we need to assess. It’s a possibility that we have and will consider.”
It’s worth remembering that Mkhitaryan is out of contract in the summer of 2021, he won’t be offered a new deal and it’s very unlikely we’re going to let him run his big-money deal.
With that in mind, everything points to him departing this year, despite the warm words.
I really hope this is just to get a good transfer fee from Roma.
I would love to have him back.
If Arteta could fix Xhaka and Mustafi, why not him as well?
He lacks the will
Everyone was, to be honest. That’s one of the thimgs Arteta turned around.
Don’t want him to take playing time away from Martinelli, Saka or Willock. Hope he gets sold. Better for all parties.
Good game by Arteta. Better saying this instead of saying he’s lightweight and has no future etc. Roma will have to pay a respectable fee to keep him.
I want him to go where he gets pleasure. Wherever that may he.
He’s not a bad squad player but with his wages (~£180kpw) and our tight budget (particularly if we miss out on CL) he has to contribute more than that
I’d also like to think Smith-Rowe could carry out that squad role as well as a 32 year old Mkhi could next year, with much more upside going forward
Smoke and mirrors, cloaks and daggers….
We’re well stocked in the wide areas now, with Pepe, Nelson, Saka, Martinelli.
The first decent offer we get, we should accept, the quicker we get players off the books, the quicker we can move players in.
We need quality and more balance, not quantity.
What about Yaya Sonogo ?
If he wants to give more opportunities to proven flops why not Yaya?
Sounds desperate to me – like he is not going to be given much to spend in the summer.
As one of p.e.a. best friends if Miki stays , may help p.e.a. sign the contract …
Arteta trying to crank up his value by saying we want him maybe!!!
Just what we need, another featherweight midfielder…. Sell him