Arsene Wenger really wanted Arsenal to strike 2014 deal… now Mikel Arteta may actually succeed

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Arsenal are keen on Oleksandr Zinchenko – a player Arsene Wenger wanted to bring to North London some years ago.

The Gunners need reinforcements this summer having missed out on the Champions League by a narrow margin.

Yet without having Champions League money, securing big signings will be difficult.

Arsenal are though being linked with a couple of Manchester City players, both of whom worked with Mikel Arteta at the Etihad Stadium.

One of them is Gabriel Jesus but the other is Zinchenko, a player who would have joined Arsenal years ago if Arsene Wenger had his way.

Arsenal are keen on Oleksandr Zinchenko

Arsenal are seeking left back cover after Nuno Tavares struggled last term and Zinchenko can provide that.

The Ukrainian star can also feature in midfield too and Arteta will know all about his ability from their time at City.

Hailed as ‘really, really good’ by Graeme Souness, Zinchenko is likely to be in demand if City let him go.

The Daily Mail suggest that Arsenal are keen on signing Zinchenko in a move that Arsene Wenger may just love.

talkSPORT note that Wenger wanted to sign Zinchenko for Arsenal some eight years ago.

Agent Sandor Varga is quoted as saying that Wenger saw Zinchenko playing for Shakhtar Donetsk in a UEFA Youth League game against Arsenal.

The photo above even shows Zinchenko in action in that game against Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin.

Wenger called Varga to say that he needed Zinchenko at Arsenal and the Gunners did make a bid.

However, there were ’some problems’ with the deal and Arsenal missed out, leaving City to sign him in 2016.

“Two years ago, Arsene Wenger phoned me,” said Varga. “Zinchenko was 17 then and Shakhtar played Arsenal in the UEFA Youth League. Arsene watched the match and immediately called me, saying: ‘I need Zinchenko’. [Arsenal] made an offer but there were some problems and then Zinchenko was discovered by a lot of people,” he added.

Arsenal will have to pay much, much more if they want Zinchenko now but it may just be worth it if he can solidify a couple of position for Arteta’s Arsenal, all whilst Wenger will wish he had got the deal done in 2014.