It is to the eternal credit to Mikel Arteta that Arsenal can now be mentioned in the same breath as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
That Premier League title may remain elusive – Pep Guardiola’s team retaining their crown on the final day – but it is only three years ago that Arsenal were finishing a distant eighth place; behind West Ham and Leicester and only two points above Leeds United.
It’s been quite the transformation. From perennial also rans to genuine challengers at the top of the tree.
Arsenal’s re-emergence into one of the planet’s most fearsome sides has not gone unnoticed across the Channel either. It would take a pretty special offer for of the finest footballers in France to turn his back on a club who will be playing Champions League football in 2024/25.
But if Arsenal come calling, Aleksandr Golovin would give some serious consideration to planting a ‘For Sale’ sign outside of his picturesque Principality home.
Aleksandr Golovin would consider leaving Monaco for Arsenal
“I like where I am now,” Golovin begins, keen to keep the door open a crack for Europe’s A-list institutions. “Even more than in previous years. We have the strongest (Monaco) team of all time, the coach is also the most successful.
“So, right now, I’m not thinking about switching. But if you move, then only to top clubs. PSG, Manchester City, Real Madrid.
“I would also say Arsenal, because I have always had sympathy for this club.”
They do say you should never sign a player on the back of his performances at a World Cup – see Sofyan Amrabat, Kleberson, Milan Jovanovic to name but three – but the £26 million deal that took Golovin from CSKA Moscow to Monaco after the 2018 tournament on Russian soil has proven to be excellent value for money.
A ‘genius’ of a midfielder, Golovin’s eye for a defence-splitting pass and his trademark long-range strikes have drawn comparisons with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. There are similarities between him and a prime Alex Hleb too, the former Gunners playmaker urging Golovin to follow in his North London footsteps should the opportunity present itself.
Likened to Martin Odegaard
“Aleksandr has become one of the leaders of Monaco and plays good football. I liked him before (when still at CSKA); fast, creative, sees the field well,” Hleb, a Champions League runner-up alongside Arsene Wenger in 2006, told Championat recently.
“Every footballer wants to reach a higher level. I think that Aleksandr himself will decide where to move.
“If you want to grow, you must move forward. Monaco are a good European team, but they are not at the top. If there are offers from top clubs, then it’s time to move on and set higher goals for yourself. But you need to approach this wisely; go where the system suits your style.
“We need a team that plays beautiful combination football. And the main thing is that the coach wants to see you on the team and trusts you. We need to weigh up everything.
“Golovin would fit well into these teams. Barcelona and Arsenal football suits him.”
Golovin turned down Chelsea before joining Monaco, and has been a target for Newcastle United in previous windows.
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