Arsenal fans have had reason to feel a bit miffed with La Liga’s Catalan giants before, especially after the aggressive, and you could argue illegal, tapping up of Cesc Fabregas by his former club. We have not had to worry about Barcelona and their interest in any of our players in over a year now though, because they have been under a transfer ban.
That ban is almost up and the January transfer window could see the Spanish champions trying to make up for lost time and after the Fabregas saga, there is one player that Arsenal fans are concerned that Barca might want, another former member of their famous La Masia academy Hector Bellerin.
The brilliant young right back has been a real revelation since the injury problems of Matheiu Debuchy gave him a first team chance and with the Barcelona and Brazil right back Dani Alves set to turn 33 before the end of the season, Bellerin´s is a position they are sure to be looking at.
Metro has reported that to be the case in fact and it is the Arsenal star they want. Hopefully they will not get him and Bellerin has spoken a few times about his wish to stay with Arsenal no matter who is interested, so fingers crossed.
The other Gunner interesting Barca is even younger and has only made a couple of appearances for our under 18 side so far. But 15-year old Emile Rowe-Smith is a massive prospect and has just returned from the USA where he helped England to win the Nike International Tournament for under 16s. Scouts from the Spanish club were there as well though, and the Daily Mail reports that Rowe-Smith was the reason.
Arsenal need to get this starlet signed up quick to stop Barca and it might be a good time to speak to young Bellerin as well.