After the success of the FA Cup, Arsenal look set to kick off their summer squad rebuild as they aim to attempt to break into the top four of the Premier League next season.
Arteta was over the moon with the clubs FA Cup victory, but he is under no illusions as to the task the Gunners are up against if they are to get back towards the top of the table. This squad needs investment and new players.
One player who could be set to arrive is from Chelsea. A player who has played a key role in helping Chelsea to the top four this season, Willian (32 next month), is not the youngest player, but one with a wealth of experience and arguably this season was one of his best to do.
The former BBC and current The Atheltic journalist, David Ornstein said: “He is 31, going on 32 but that means he brings experience. He can help the young players Arsenal are trying to develop come through and he can also help bring a winning mentality and culture that Arsenal are trying to build.” Ornstein said on the Ornstein & Chapman Podcast on Tuesday morning.
? Willian options now down from 4 (Chelsea, Arsenal, Barca & Miami) to 2: Arsenal + unnamed other
? 3yr offer expected imminently, on request of Arteta
? Expensive but #AFC feel worth it
⚽️ Other bids higher but Arteta/Edu pull bigger@TheAthleticUKhttps://t.co/sQG9Esu3G9
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 4, 2020
“Don’t forget he comes as a free transfer and as we said, the contract offer, despite being three years we’re told, is not as lucrative as he could have got elsewhere. As other reports have suggested, this could well develop pretty quickly.”
This was following Ornstein’s suggestion that Arsenal and one unnamed club were now the options for Willian. He suggested that Arsenal’s offer to Willian was not the most financially lucrative, but that it was a three year deal, something the player would like (rather than the two years offered by Chelsea). Willian is also said to be settled in London and the appeal of working under Mikel Arteta and link with Edu is said to appeal.
Willian would help add quality to Arsenal’s creative players, an area they have seriously lacked in this season. Following expiry of his contract, this would be a free transfer for Arsenal.
https://twitter.com/OliPriceBates/status/1290408933388165120?s=20
Willian (7.33) performed statistically better than any Arsenal player this season according to WhoScored (Pepe and Auba both just over 7.0). No Arsenal player created more key passes per game last season and only Pepe managed more dribbles. Willian would clearly add quality to the progressive nature of the Arsenal attacking midfield options.