Arsenal told to sign Manchester United transfer target instead of Chelsea flop

Mikel Arteta has been told to bring a former Arsenal star back to the club rather than signing Chelsea flop Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Arsenal are close to signing Kepa, once the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, for just £5m.

Chelsea spent a record-breaking £72m to sign Kepa from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 but the Spain international struggled at Stamford Bridge.

Kepa spent last season on loan at Bournemouth and is now set to join Arsenal as Arteta’s No. 2 behind David Raya.

Neto performed that role for the Gunners last season but he has returned to Bournemouth following the end of his loan spell.

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has questioned the club’s move for Kepa, however, and believes Arteta should instead welcome Emiliano Martinez back to the club.

Arsenal sold Martinez to Aston Villa in 2020 and have watched the Argentine become one of the best goalkeepers on the planet and a World Cup winner.

The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer with Manchester United interested in a deal.

But Petit wants Arsenal to make a move for Martinez and says he would bring an ‘important mentality’ to a Gunners squad in desperate need of a trophy next season.

‘Since Kepa Arrizabalaga’s move to Chelsea, it has been a nightmare for him,’ Petit told talksportBET.

‘He went to Real Madrid and it didn’t go well, he went to Bournemouth and wasn’t the first choice to begin with but did end up doing quite well.

‘For Bournemouth is one thing, but for the biggest clubs in the world you have to have the right mentality, especially as a goalkeeper.

‘I think Arsenal need a goalkeeper who can, not replace David Raya because he has done well, but can give them another option.

‘If I was Arsenal I’d go for Emiliano Martinez, look at what he has done with Argentina and Aston Villa.

‘I didn’t like his behaviour when he played against PSG, but he has a winning mentality and that would be important for Arsenal.

‘I don’t understand Chelsea selling Kepa’

‘He has that nastiness that is important in winning teams, it inspires other players.

‘Arsenal are all Mr Nice Guys at the moment, 25 years ago when we were winning trophies there were some nasty boys in there, but had that winning mentality. Arsenal need that.’

While Arsenal chase Kepa, ex-Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has questioned why the Blues would sanction the transfer.

‘I’m confused. I don’t understand,’ Wright-Phillips told Betway when asked abut Kepa’s imminent move to the Emirates Stadium.

‘It’s like nobody’s been watching Kepa this season. He’s been unbelievable. He is part of the reason why Bournemouth finished where they finished.

‘The defence was outstanding, but Kepa was unbelievable, as well, I thought.

‘I assumed while the season was going on that Chelsea didn’t need to buy a goalkeeper because Kepa was going back anyway, but that isn’t to be the case.

‘You can have as good a goalkeeper as you want, but if you’re still going to make the same mistakes in defence, your goalkeeper is still going to concede.

‘That’s just the fact of the matter. [Liverpool goalkeeper] Alisson pulls off amazing saves when he’s needed. Half the time he has to pull off a save, it’s not forced errors.

‘So if Chelsea can get their defence like that, where they’re not making him make unnecessary saves he shouldn’t have to make, then I think Kepa is your man to keep. You don’t need to forage around.

‘Most managers now are looking for goalkeepers that are good with their feet. I think Kepa’s alright with his feet, but he might not be at the level they want him to be.

‘But for me, it’s a real strange one.’

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