Arsenal Among Clubs Interested In Barcelona Winger: Should Arteta Make The Move?

According to Foot Mercato, Arsenal are among the clubs monitoring the situation of Ousmane Dembele. The explosive winger is expected to leave FC Barcelona after rejecting the club’s attempts to tie him down to a new contract. With Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Chelsea keen on his services, Dembele has no shortage of suitors, and a move away from Camp Nou could be on the horizon this month.

Ousmane Dembele’s Struggles At Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele makes a strong case for being Barcelona’s worst investment over the past decade. In 2017, he was brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a whopping figure of €135 million. The move was justified by the winger’s incredible performances for Borussia Dortmund, where he showcased his pace, dribbling prowess and productivity in the final third.

However, Dembele’s career at Barcelona has been marred by injuries. In four and a half years, he has featured in just 126 competitive matches, scoring 30 goals and supplying 23 assists. He is yet to feature in over 2,000 minutes of league football in any of his four completed seasons at the club.

On top of that, the Frenchman has struggled with form as well. He notably scored just six goals in 30 league appearances last term, and although he remains a crucial player in the team, it is apparent that Barcelona rate other youngsters like Ansu Fati or Gavi more highly. And with his contract expiring at the end of the season, a move away from Camp Nou certainly appears to be the most logical option for Dembele at the moment.

Should Arsenal Make A Move?

Arsenal are in the market for attacking reinforcements in light of the recent struggles of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe. While Aubameyang has faced difficulties off the pitch, Pepe has clearly failed to prove himself in English football. He often looks clueless in the final third and his lack of confidence in front of goal has resulted in poor numbers.

The Ivorian has even fallen behind Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in the pecking order. And with Mikel Arteta open to offloading the winger in January, he could find himself an excellent replacement in the form of Dembele.

Despite his struggles at Barcelona, the Frenchman is undoubtedly a talented forward with a high ceiling. His skill and quality in the final third could go a long way in further juicing up the Arsenal attack that is finally starting to kick into gear. Not to mention, the former Dortmund winger brings in considerable experience and the winning mentality which would help Arteta continue his side’s push for a top-four spot.

However, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be all too keen on meeting Dembele’s hefty wage demands. They may also have to offload Pepe and perhaps even Aubameyang before they can splash the cash on new attackers in January.