Premier League giants Arsenal let Ismael Bennacer go but he is shining in Serie A with Empoli.
Arsenal fans might only have been given the most fleeting of glimpses of Ismael Bennacer during his two-year stay at the Emirates but it seems they are desperate for more.
The French-born midfielder played just one game for the club between 2015 and 2017, coming off the bench in that 3-0 EFL Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
But he has shown the Gunners exactly what they are missing since being offered an escape route by Empoli.
Not only defensively minded but hugely impressive with the ball at his feet, Bennacer has been a revelation in Serie A, thriving in something of an Andrea Pirlo role for the Italian outfit.
But could the Algeria international be handed a second chance to prove his worth at Arsenal? Maybe so, with Le10 Sports claiming that they inserted a buy-back clause in Bennacer’s contract, one they must be tempted to trigger with Napoli reportedly offering £14 million.
Bennacer is exactly the sort of multi-faceted central midfielder who could thrive under Unai Emery at the Emirates and Arsenal could be left kicking themselves if they don’t take up their chance to bring him back before it is too late.
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