As Arsenal look set to finish the season on a high note, there are already rumours beginning to emerge about Arsene Wenger’s summer transfer targets and about the future of a few Arsenal stars. There has been plenty of speculation recently about the situation of Mikel Arteta, with David Moyes said to be keen to take him back to Spain with Real Sociedad.
Moyes, who worked with Arteta for a number of years during their spell at Everton, is known to be good friends with the Arsenal skipper, and it is understood that it was Arteta who convinced the former Manchester United boss to take the job at La Real, having had a one year spell at the club himself. Now, the reports from the Star claim that the former Everton duo are set to reunite at the Anoeta stadium. Looking at Arteta’s current situation, the report does seem to have a fair amount of credibility.
In addition to the fact that David Moyes is a well-known admirer of Arteta, the first-team situation of the Spanish midfielder is also a point to consider. With the emergence of Francis Coquelin as Arsenal’s first-choice defensive midfielder and with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and even Santi Cazorla, who has grown accustomed to playing a deeper role, fighting for a place alongside the young Frenchman, the Gunners captain will certainly find it difficult to get into the first-team.
At 32 years of age and with first-team opportunities looking like they will be hard to come by, I really think Mikel will consider his future at the end of the season. Despite recently being offered a one-year extension, I believe his time at the Emirates is coming to an end. To be brutally honest, he simply does not have the legs anymore. When we see Coquelin put in a shift in defensive midfield, it is really evident to see what Arsenal had been lacking when Arteta was deployed there.
Who thinks Wenger will play him if he did stay?
Anurag