Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, recently expressed his belief that the club should aim to sign the world's best players, including the highly sought-after Kylian Mbappé. However, Arteta acknowledged that Mbappé appears destined to join Real Madrid. According to ESPN, the French forward has informed Paris Saint-Germain of his intention to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, with sources indicating that a move to Madrid is likely.
When asked about Arsenal's interest in Mbappé, Arteta stated that 'When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation. But as you said, it looks in a different way [that Mbappé is joining Madrid].' However, he clarified that he personally is not involved in those conversations until the final stage, leaving it to the technical director Edu and the club owners.
Arteta emphasized the need for Arsenal to pursue the best talent and players if they aspire to be the best team. However, financial constraints, particularly related to Financial Fair Play rules, may limit the club's ability to make such a high-profile signing. While a deal for Mbappé would not require a transfer fee, it would undoubtedly exceed Arsenal's current wage structure, with reports indicating that Mbappé earns over €650,000 per week.
The highest earner at Arsenal is believed to be Bukayo Saka, who receives approximately £300,000 per week, including bonuses. The financial implications of signing Mbappé would be significant, and the club would need to carefully consider the impact on their wage structure.
Despite these challenges, Arteta expressed confidence in Arsenal's appeal to elite players. He stated, 'The club we are, I don't think that has ever been an issue. Everybody wants to play for Arsenal.' Arteta highlighted the club's history and reputation for nurturing talent as reasons why players are drawn to Arsenal.
It is worth noting that Arsenal made attempts to lure Mbappé to North London previously when Arsène Wenger was the manager. Wenger revealed that he had met with Mbappé in 2016 while the young player was considering whether to extend his contract with AS Monaco. Moreover, Arsenal reportedly had a €100 million bid turned down in 2017, a year before Mbappé ultimately joined PSG.
In an interview with the Telegraph after joining PSG, Mbappé confirmed his meeting with Wenger and praised the former Arsenal manager as a great coach who knows how to develop young players. However, he ultimately chose PSG as his main option after considering the advantages and disadvantages of various clubs.
While the prospect of signing a player of Mbappé's quality is undoubtedly appealing for Arsenal, there are significant obstacles to overcome. Financial considerations, wage structures, and competition from other clubs make the likelihood of securing Mbappé's signature challenging. Nonetheless, Arteta's ambition to attract top talent demonstrates Arsenal's aspirations to return to the pinnacle of the footballing world. Time will tell whether the Gunners can overcome these obstacles and make a marquee signing that would undoubtedly excite fans and elevate the club's status.
