Arsenal have some big decisions to make at right back – especially with a new name being linke with a move.
Hector Bellerin is being linked away from the club, Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be returning from West Bromwich Albion and Cedric Soares has been a welcome surprise of late.
Now, Mundo Deportivo claim that Arsenal want to sign Real Betis right back Emerson Royal, with Edu eyeing up his fellow Brazilian.
Emerson isn’t a huge name outside of Spain right now, so here are five facts about him for Arsenal fans to learn about their potential signing…
1. Emerson, 22, had a real nomadic start to his career in Brazil, joining huge clubs like Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and Gremio before settling down with Ponte Preta.
2. After shining for Atletico Mineiro, Barcelona signed Emerson in 2019, but it was a ‘joint financial operation’ with Betis, which the two sides paying half of the fee and Barca being able to reacquire him in 2021 – something Arsenal will need to be wary of this summer.
3. In 69 games for Betis, Emerson has shown his attacking quality, bagging five goals and 10 assists from his right back role.
4. Emerson’s pace and attacking play has actually seen him compared to ex-Barcelona hero and fellow Brazilian Dani Alves – a comparison he tried to play down last year.
5. SPORT reported in January that Paris Saint-Germain are setting up a €25million (£21.5million) summer deal for Emerson, meaning Arsenal will have to do two things – pay up and act quickly – if they are to sign the defender.
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