By ’Tayo Amosu
August 8th, 2014
Spanish side Athletic Bilbao are reportedly in the hunt for Arsenal’s vice captain Mikel Arteta and fellow Spaniard Nacho Monreal.
They are said to be tempting the Spanish duo back home with a raid on the Gunners.
It fuels the talks of Arsenal desperately looking to sign a defensive midfielder this summer, with William Carvalho, Sami Khedira, Lars Bender and Josuha Guilavogui being linked to the North London side, in recent days.
With Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina joining the Gunners this summer, Arsenal hopefuls have suddenly become very confident of a strong squad especially when the players that departed have been duly replaced i.e. David Ospina for Lukas Fabianski and Mathieu Debuchy for Bacary Sagna, who moved to League Champions, Manchester City.
This summer, Arsenal has had more signings than departures and the club may have more players than is required.
So, few departures may have to be made before the close of the transfer window. Wenger, hinting that the club business is far from over this summer, recently said ‘‘I think August 15 to 30 will be busy again. I’m very happy (with our business) and I’m still open to doing more’.’
Mikel Arteta, the Spanish midfielder who is in the final year of his contract, has served Arsenal over two seasons playing as a defensive midfielder, a position he began playing at Arsenal following Alex Song’s move to Barcelona.
The former Everton captain has reportedly insisted he has no immediate plans to leave the club. However, it won’t be surprising to see Arsenal cash-in on him, even though the 32-year-old may not want to leave the club this summer.
Bilbao on their part are on the look-out for a replacement for Ander Herrera, who moved from the Spanish club to Manchester United in the English Premiership, and would favour a move for a player from Spain.
Arteta knows he is an integral part of the current Arsenal squad but he may not have an option if Arsene Wenger decides to do business with Athletic Bilbao for his signature.
Nacho Monreal, who has played as back up left back to Kieran Gibbs, is also reportedly wanted by Bilbao and could be persuaded to leave the Barclay’s English Premier League for another experience playing in the Spanish La Liga.
The former Malaga left back may also agree if the bid comes in for him for his time at the FA Cup Champions has not really been a happy one.
He has been enduring a difficult period of trying to cement a place in Arsene Wenger’s first team plans.
Monreal, 28, has provided cover for the injury prone Kieran Gibbs, who Wenger seem to see as his first option at the left back position.
He also demonstrated his versatility by playing as a centre back, pairing with new boy Calum Chambers at the just concluded Emirates Cup in London over the weekend.
While the Mikel Arteta sale would not really affect the team if a younger replacement in the defensive midfield position would come in to understudy Mathieu Flamini, selling Nacho Monreal may put some pressure on the defence line which already Arsenal is short in.
With Carl Jenkinson on loan at West Ham and Thomas Vermaelen due to depart the club, another departure in that department may be costly as Kieran Gibbs, the first choice left back has a disturbing injury record.
