‘Open door’ emerges for Arsenal to sign Barcelona midfielder

Lewis Oldham
Arsenal target Roberto

According to reports, an ‘open door’ has emerged for Arsenal to sign Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto this summer.

The Gunners have regularly been linked with the Spaniard in recent months. 

The 30-year-old has played over 300 times for Barcelona across all competitions.


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Roberto has struggled with injuries this term as he has only played twelve times. His future is also in doubt as his contract is set to expire in June.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) are reporting that barring ‘radical changes’, Roberto will be departing Barcelona this summer.

The player is aware that he has an ‘open door’ this summer and he is willing to make a move to the Premier League. They add that Arsenal’s chances of signing Roberto are increasing.

Elsewhere, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Bukayo Saka’s penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final was “great for his career”.

The Englishman scored as the Gunners beat Watford 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. This win moves Arsenal into the top four.

Arteta said: “I think Bukayo had an experience in the summer that not a lot of players would ever have and I think it was great for his career because the football world showed how much they like him and how much they respect him.

“I think that was a big boost for him to realise in difficult moments that people are going to give him support, and the club did exactly the same as his team-mates.

“Then it’s about giving him that space. What he is already doing is phenomenal and he needs that room. Don’t read too much, do what you do.

“Football is his priority in life and you can see that every day in training and he needs to continue to behave and live the way that he is doing.”

Arteta believes Saka, who has enjoyed an impressive season so far, is better for the experience.

“I think so,” Arteta added. “I think experiences like that mark your career. And what you learn from those difficult moments is much more probably than if you had scored that goal.”