Dean Jones has told Give Me Sport that Arsenal have been watching Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley for years – amid reports the Gunners are battling Liverpool and Manchester United to sign the young Danish midfielder.
Assist machine O’Riley, 21, has made a brilliant start to life at Celtic. Joining the club in January from MK Dons, he played 20 times during the second half of last season – scoring four goals and laying on two assists for Celtic.
This season, he has taken his form to a new level. Proving to be a creative source for the Hoops, O’Riley has five assists in six games this season – four of which have come in Celtic’s last two games. He got two in a 4-0 win over Rangers.
Reports in the summer claimed that Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all pursuing O’Riley. A fee between £15million and £20million could tempt Celtic. They bought the Denmark under-21 international for just £1.5million.
“O’Riley is someone who’s been on their watchlist for years, since he was coming through at Fulham he was a player they were keeping tabs on him. There’s always been a few clubs sniffing around for him,” Jones told Give Me Sport.
Arsenal have been watching Celtic midfielder O’Riley for years
Is O’Riley good enough to start for Arsenal? For Liverpool, or for United? No. But he has the ability to make an impact as a squad player judging by his form for Celtic – and his numbers. At 21, he has enormous potential at Celtic.
But right now, the best place for O’Riley is Celtic. To keep playing regularly, to play in the Champions League, to win trophies. O’Riley is likely to start against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. He wouldn’t get that if he went down south.
He might come off the bench. But for two of the three interested parties, they are not even in the Champions League. So, O’Riley, for at least this season, should focus on Celtic and perhaps, earning a place at the World Cup this winter.
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