Arsenal assistant phones ex-Chelsea star with ‘missing piece’ claim

Will Ford

Arsenal are desperate to land a striker before the end of the window, and have made a last gasp attempt to lure Alvaro Morata to the club, according to reports.

The Gunners’ chase of Dusan Vlahovic ended in defeat, while other targets Alexander Isak and Dominic Calvert-Lewin look set to stay at Real Sociedad and Everton respectively.


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But failure to land Vlahovic could work in Arsenal’s favour in their bid to sign Morata.

Vlahovic’s arrival in Turin will result in Morata falling further down the pecking order under Max Allegri, and Arsenal have smelled an opportunity.

Spanish outlet Diario AS claim Mikel Arteta’s assistant Miguel Molina has personally called the former Chelsea striker – on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid – in a bid to persuade him to move to the Emirates on deadline day.

Molina is said to have outlined how he would fit in at Arsenal, telling Morata he is the ‘missing piece’ in the side to drive them to finish in the top four and earn Champions League qualification.

But it’s thought Morata’s preference is to stay at Juventus despite the arrival of Vlahovic, and a return to the Premier League is low down on his list of alternatives, with his struggles at Chelsea causing problems with his mental health.

Morata joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2017 but returned to La Liga to join Atletico Madrid in 2019 with just 24 goals and six assists to his name for Chelsea.

Arsenal’s search for a new striker comes in the wake of Pierre-Emerick Aubemyang’s disciplinary issues, which have seen him jettisoned from the first team.

The Gabon international has been linked with a loan exit this month, but former Arsenal star Ray Parlour claims he should be given another chance at the club.

When asked if Arsenal needed Aubameyang, Parlour replied: “Of course they need him.

“But you’ve also got to show your dominance as a manager and say you can’t be doing stuff – especially when you have a young team.

“As a captain you’ve got to set a good example, which is very important.

“I’d look up to Tony Adams back in the day and he set the example – and not by going to the pub by the way – but by being on time and making sure when you wear that shirt you play for the team.

“Stuff like that you learn as you go along.

“But the young players will look at that and see he’s turning up late and not doing this and will be thinking; ‘Can we do that as well?’

“It’s not a good look for Arsenal Football Club.

“Arteta’s come down strong on him and now it’s all about the reaction, for me. I’d give him another chance because he’s that good and can score you goals.”