Arteta urged to seal transfer as Arsenal stars could be "too comfortable"

01 June 2023 , 15:28

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Arteta urged to seal transfer as Arsenal stars could be "too comfortable"

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been urged to sign Bayer Leverkusen ace Moussa Diaby to prevent the current crop of Gunners attackers from becoming "too comfortable".

The Gunners ran eventual champions Manchester City far closer than anyone would have expected but ultimately fell short at the business end of the season. Some have speculated whether fatigue was a factor, particularly in the instance of star man Bukayo Saka.

The Arsenal academy graduate has been a mainstay in the starting eleven all season and after he started the final game of the campaign against Wolves, Saka became the first Gunners star to not miss a single game in back-to-back league seasons since David Seaman in 1990/91 and 1991/92.

This has led many to call for Arteta to sign a back-up right winger, someone that can ease Saka's workload and ensure the 21-year-old isn't required every single time the Gunners take to the pitch regardless of the level of opposition.

One name that has emerged as a potential option is Diaby. The 23-year-old is attracting plenty of admirers across the continent after two stellar seasons in the Bundesliga.

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Widely recognised as one of the top talents plying his trade in German football, Diaby is still contracted to Leverkusen until the summer of 2025.

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Moussa Diaby has been linked with a move to Arsenal

Despite this, Arsenal have been encouraged to try and lure him to the Emirates by former Gunners defender Johan Djourou.

Commenting on his old side's reported interest in the Leverkusen star, Djourou told mybettingsites : "For me, competition is the be-all and end-all, so I would welcome a new arrival in that position."

The ex-Switzerland international also compared Arsenal to City and seemed to suggest that if the Gunners want to try and dethrone Pep Guardiola's men, then they need to be able to boast a similar level of strength in depth.

"Just look at Manchester City: At the moment, top players like Phil Foden or Riyad Mahrez are always on the bench, while Jack Grealish is an integral part of the starting eleven because he performs really well.

"A well-balanced squad is eminently important to strengthen the cohesion and to make sure that every player questions himself again and again. Arsenal need a bit more quality and experience so that nobody feels too comfortable."

From all of the reports and speculation emerging out of the Emirates, those at the top of the Arsenal hierarchy are aiming to land all of Arteta's targets to give the club the best possible chance of going one better next term.

Josh O'Brien