Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be a huge admirer of one PSG star, as the Gunners and sporting director Andrea Berta lead initial talks for his signature ahead of January.
After a near-£270 million spend on new signings last summer, Arsenal are already in dreamland.
Arteta’s side sit pretty atop the Premier League table, boasting the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues with just three goals conceded in all competitions.
They’re also top of the pile in England for goals scored from set pieces with 11 so far.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
While some critics are bemoaning this statistic and lambasting Arsenal’s ‘boring’ style of play, Arteta and supporters alike won’t care in the slightest if they get to celebrate the club’s first league crown in 22 years at the end of 2025/2026.
So far, that looks like a very serious possibility, with current champions Liverpool currently on a torrid run of form and Arsenal looking like the team to beat.
Whichever way you look at it, the fact Arsenal haven’t conceded a single goal in all competitions since their dramatic 2-1 win at Newcastle is quite simply astounding.
The arrivals of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie in the summer have also ensured that Arteta has quality cover for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes — who are two of the best centre-backs in Europe — if one or both of the duo succumb to injury.
Mosquera has impressed when called upon by Arsenal in Saliba’s stead, and depending on the latter’s fitness status, Berta’s recruit is potentially set for another run in the team.
Make no mistake, Arsenal are shored up defensively, but the same cannot be said for other areas of the squad.
With the long-term futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard uncertain (both of their contracts expire in 2027), Arsenal are believed to be weighing up the possibility of signing a left-winger in the near future.
In centre-midfield, Arsenal are one serious injury to Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi or Mikel Merino away from a potential problem, with Christian Norgaard not there for the long-term by his own admission.
Arsenal hold 'preliminary talks' over PSG star Fabian Ruiz
According to reports in Spain, Berta and co are targeting PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz as an option for the engine room.
The former Napoli star was a firm regular of Luis Enrique’s treble-winning side last season, making 61 appearances in all competitions whilst bagging eight goals and 11 assists to boot.
His brace against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup helped PSG to the final, before they lost to Chelsea, with Ruiz maintaining his place in Enrique’s side this season before picking up a groin injury.
Ruiz has missed their last six matches as a result, but while the Spain international sits on the sidelines, Arsenal are believed to be plotting a move.
Arteta personally “dreams” of signing the 29-year-old, as per this latest murmur from the continent, and it is also claimed that Arsenal have held “preliminary” talks over signing Ruiz.
With the midfielder’s contract expiring in under two years, PSG have set a price tag of around £44 million — which could be obtainable from Berta’s perspective.
That being said, Enrique definitely won’t be keen on losing a player who’s one of the key cogs in his midfield machine.
“I’m really happy with his performances,” Enrique told reporters in February.
“He’s been criticized at times, but he’s one of my best midfielders. He knows how to adapt his play to his teammates, create assists, play between the lines, move off the ball, create opportunities, and he has a strong shot.
“He was also named the best player at the Euros. Not taking him to the World Cup as a coach was a mistake on my part. I take full responsibility for that. I’m very pleased with what he’s contributing both on and off the field. He can still improve, like everyone, but he always gives his all, whether he plays for a minute or 90 minutes. He’s a crucial player for us.”
The left-footed ace can play as a defensive anchor, a traditional centre-midfielder and in the number 10 role — adding to the appeal — but a lot will depend on Ruiz’s stance when it comes to leaving the champions of Europe.
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