Arteta ‘insists’ on bringing Juventus star to Arsenal

Jason Soutar
Mikel Arteta looking frustrated after a defeat

Mikel Arteta is willing to splash out €35million to bring Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski to Arsenal, according to reports.

The 21-year-old has struggled for consistent game time under Massimiliano Allegri this season, having shone with Andrea Pirlo in charge last term.

Under Pirlo, he made 47 appearances in all competitions in 2020/21 and was an unused substitute in Serie A only twice; a number that has been matched already in 21/22.


Same old Arsenal, says the Mailbox. Arteta out…


Kulusevski, however, played the full 90 minutes in Juventus’ last two league matches, playing on the right flank in 2-0 wins over Genoa and Salernitana.

Having said that, the Swede’s game time has sparked transfer rumours, with Arsenal and Tottenham both reportedly interested.

According to La Repubblica (via Sport Witness), the Gunners ‘insist’ on the Juve winger, whose future is ‘increasingly in the balance’.

Despite Spurs’ interest, Arsenal are ‘the most active team’, as  ‘emissaries from the London club are expected in Italy early next week’.

‘Arteta wants Kulusevski’, and the north Londoners are reportedly willing to spend ‘€30m + €5m in bonuses’.

However, Juve are keen to receive at least €40m, with the player himself perhaps unwilling to ‘marry a project that is currently not very ambitious’, in reference to Arsenal.

Arteta’s side have hit a rough patch after disappointing results against Manchester United and Everton.

They had gone unbeaten for 11 matches from September until November, before losing 4-0 at Anfield against Liverpool.

Monday’s defeat at Everton has raised serious questions about Arsenal under Arteta. The Gunners are now seventh in the Premier League table, four points behind West Ham in fourth.

Meanwhile, Gary Neville thinks Arteta would sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to bring in another player if he could.

Neville predicts there will be a “problem” with Aubameyang after he was left on the bench against the Toffees – eventually coming on in the 85th minute with the teams level at 1-1.

“I think there will be a problem with Aubameyang off the back of this game,” Neville said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

“I don’t think he’ll like the idea of Nketiah coming on. I don’t think he’ll like the idea of being a sub full-stop.”

When asked if there was something brewing between Arteta and Aubameyang, Neville added: “Yeah it is going to. There’s always that little bit of a bug there between Arteta and Aubameyang.”