Arsenal will be on red alert after hearing that Xavi is leaving Barcelona and Mikel Arteta’s contract should become the absolute top priority.
This has been a quiet January window for Arsenal and we can’t see it getting busy before the deadline this week.
The Gunners look set to go with what they have as they chase the Premier League title, but news from Spain means a top priority is emerging.
Barcelona boss Xavi announced on Saturday evening that he will be stepping down as manager at the end of the season.
Just over 24 hours after Jurgen Klopp announced his Liverpool departure, Xavi will be following suit – and don’t be surprised if Barcelona focus on Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal must get Mikel Arteta contract sorted right now as Xabi announces Barcelona exit
Arteta has been loosely linked with the Barcelona job in the past but played down a potential 2022 move to the Camp Nou.
Xavi is now on his way out and Arteta will surely be prominent in the thinking in terms of a replacement.
Arteta came up in the famed La Masia ranks as a player, leaving Antiguoko for Barca at the age of just 15.
After emerging in the Barcelona B ranks, Arteta left Catalunya for Paris Saint-Germain and a potential return to the Camp Nou may pull on the heartstrings – just as returning to manage Arsenal did in 2019.
Arteta has proven his ability to change the culture of a club and his schooling under Pep Guardiola would surely make him appealing to the Catalan giants.
Barcelona’s financial situation is perilous and that is something which could dissuade Arteta from such a move, but Arsenal can’t take any chances.
This is the time for Arsenal to push for Arteta to sign a new contract, commit his future to the club and kill off any Barcelona interest before it really ramps up.
Fabrizio Romano reported earlier in January that Arteta loves Arsenal but only has 18 months left on his contract.
There was no rush at the time but Barcelona are now looking for a new manager – and somebody with ties to the club, like Arteta, will be on their radar.
That should spark Arsenal into life and put the offer of a new deal on the table with the goal of providing some stability and clarity for all.
Arteta may not have brought the Premier League title back to North London but his work at Arsenal has been stellar, building a side that can challenge in the Premier League and in Europe.
The exciting thing with Arteta is that he is still only 41; he is one of the top managers around right now and he should have an incredible future ahead of him in the next decade and even beyond.
Arsenal need to make that Arteta’s future is at the Emirates Stadium rather than at the Camp Nou, and his contract should subsequently become priority number one.
The post Opinion: Arsenal's absolute top priority has just become clear after Saturday announcement appeared first on HITC.
from HITC https://ift.tt/WyufeD6
No comments: