Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati is reportedly of interest to Arsenal. The Gunners aimed to sign a young winger in the January transfer window but failed in their pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk, who eventually signed for Chelsea.
According to Spanish outlet COPE, Arsenal and Manchester United have been in touch with Jorge Mendes about the player’s situation. The Gunners did secure Leandro Trossard in January but would supposedly still be open to signing another versatile forward, with Fati a potential candidate.
Fati has struggled to recapture the form which allowed him to burst onto the European scene in 2019. The interruption to his rise was due to a meniscal laceration before a serious hamstring problem cost him a second extended spell on the sidelines which cost him more than a year and a half of football at a critical stage in his development.
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As such his return has seen mainly substitute appearances under Xavi Hernandez who has used the likes of Memphis Depay, Ferran Torres and Gavi in the wide-left role. Hypothetically, were Fati to leave there would be surely some questions from supporters for the likely considerable investment it would take to sign a player out of form and with an injury history.
However, at least on the personal and footballing side, the Gunners have a manager with a track record of helping the careers of players. He’s done it brilliantly with Granit Xhaka in his current side and has a history of working well with wide players at his former club.
Reporter Melissa Reddy shared her story of speaking with former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane. In it, Reddy discloses that whilst Arteta was with the German international Sane benefitted greatly from the Spaniard’s help on and off the field.
"I interviewed Leroy Sane recently and asked him about Mikel Arteta because he was a massive influence on him at Man City," she told the Kelly and Wrighty show.
"Sane said 'he was the one who pulled me aside and gave me the tactical tweaks to better my game but, more important than that, he understood I was a very young player coming with a lot of expectations'.
"Coming to a new country, with a different culture, a different language, at a club where success is just expected because of the money and such.
"On a psychological and personal level, he really helped, he was so invested in Sane becoming a better player, growing as a person.
"He said 'Arsenal have made a great decision for the success of the club and the health of the club, the health of the players involved."
Fati, also a Spaniard, could perhaps be the next beneficiary of Arteta's coaching and mentoring masterclass that has seen his Arsenal side rise to the head of the Premier League table. Questions of how and where the 20-year-old fits in are valid, but a case could be made with the north London side looking to establish themselves as regular challengers in the league and European competitions that strength in depth will be integral and Fati would bring that.
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