Arsenal has emerged as one of the possible destinations for Juan Mata, should the Spaniard leave Manchester United at the end of his contract.
Arsenal is beginning to look like a more serious club. They’re competing in the league, while also attracting a lot of new faces. According to the Daily Star, Manchester United’s attacking maestro Juan Mata could be one of them.
In case you didn’t know, Juan Mata’s contract runs out at the end of the season. He is just one of the many great Premier League players who could be available for free in the summer. This means that Arsenal won’t have to deal with United’s reluctance to sell, because as of January, Mata will be free to discuss contracts with other clubs.
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However, you could argue that loyalty will play its part in the negotiations. But Mata has already moved from Chelsea to United, so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue from Arsenal’s perspective.
The North London club finally has their winning midfield. A midfield consisting of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Aaron Ramsey has worked wonders for them. However, unfortunately, it looks like Ramsey will be suffering the same fate as Mata. Arsenal just isn’t willing to offer the wages in which Ramsey and his agent are holding out for.
Juan Mata isn’t the ideal replacement for Ramsey long-term, sure, but he could act as a pretty good stopgap. And besides, as a free transfer, Arsenal fans shouldn’t be too pessimistic if the deal does take place.
Mata is very similar in style to Santi Cazorla. I know, now you’re interested, right? The two Spaniards are known for their close control while getting the best out of their attacking teammates. If Mata could even come close to replicating Cazorla’s fine work on the ball, then he will instantly be a hit for the Arsenal fans.
Unai Emery’s system calls for players who can work well in tight areas. We’ve seen just how well this has benefited Alex Iwobi. This is because the Gunners like to play out from the back, in a tightly compact midfield.
There’s no denying that Mata would help Arsenal on the counter-attack. His close ball-control and his awareness of what’s going on around him make him the ideal link to attack for Unai Emery. It’s just a case of whether or not Mata will be tempted to work with his countryman.
Do you think Arsenal should sign Juan Mata on a free transfer?