Arsenal and Manchester United are a world apart in the Premier League.
But in this coming week, they will be looking to put the finishing touches to their squads via the summer transfer market after a productive window for both.
Manchester United have been the busier out of the two, with Erik ten Hag bringing in more defensive cover, whilst Arsenal’s standout purchase is Riccardo Calafiori.
Of course, all of that is expected to change because Arsenal are closing in on the transfer of Mikel Merino, with the Euro 2024 winner with Spain looking to boost the club’s midfield.
But Perry Groves admitted that there is a Manchester United midfielder he would happily back to join the London club.
Ten Hag might have signed a new contract at Manchester United this summer, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to still clear out or sell players he doesn’t deem good enough.
Given where Arsenal are compared to their old rivals right now, you would suspect a player deemed not good enough for the 20-time champions, wouldn’t get anywhere near the Emirates.
But Groves thinks very differently when he was discussing the future of midfielder, Scott McTominay ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.
Sources have told HITC that Napoli are close to signing McTominay and he is set to be managed by former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, Antonio Conte.
The Scotland international was told by Manchester United fan and reporter Alex Crook that he isn’t good enough to take his team to the title-challenging level.
But Groves defended the player and stated that he would happily have him at the Emirates by also labelling him an ‘elite’ player, as he told talkSPORT (25/08/24 at 2:55 pm).
Scott McTominay at Arsenal
“Do I think Scott McTominay is of the calibre to take Manchester United back to where, I think and a lot of Manchester United fans think they should be, challenging for Premier League titles? The answer is probably no,” said Crook. “He does lack in quality.”
Groves responded: “At least Scott McTominay has got legs (compared to Casemiro). You don’t get to the level that Scott McTominay is without having a football brain, trust me! He’s elite. He is playing for Manchester United. He is an international footballer. What you have just said there, it’s not that he hasn’t got a football brain.
“I would take him (at Arsenal) as a squad player because I think you need players like him, who give their heart and soul on the line every single game. We talk about Chelsea and Conor Gallagher going. You aren’t going to have a soul at your football club because they know what the fabric of the football club is about. Scott McTominay is the same for Manchester United. You need players like that.”
Manchester United can learn from Arsenal
It wasn’t so long ago that Arteta was finishing eighth in the Premier League back-to-back and then losing out on Champions League football to Tottenham.
Arteta had spent a lot of money – and still is – but fans weren’t seeing any light and they were calling for his head, with the style of play also under the microscope.
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But the powers that be in north London ignored the outside noise, stuck with their manager, and let him go through the bad times and now they are closer than ever to winning the title.
Could Manchester United learn from this with ten Hag? You know if the team starts the season poorly and loses a few more games, then many will start to call for his head and that’s where the powers that be will be tested.
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