According to a recent report by the Metro, Arsenal are eager to snap up Juan Mata from Manchester United if the Spaniard is not offered a new contract to extend his stay at Old Trafford. It is understood that the 30-year-old’s current deal with the Red Devils runs out at the end of this campaign and some sources have recently claimed that the United playmaker is entirely ‘in the dark’ with regards to his future at the red half of Manchester.
Mata’s Impressive Form This Season
Mata has put in some excellent displays under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage this season which includes his game-changing freekick against Juventus on Wednesday night which helped United mount an unlikely comeback inside the Juventus Stadium.
Thus it is quite surprising to witness a club of Manchester United’s stature let one of their star players run down his contract. It will be a massive blow for the Reds of Manchester to lose one of their first-team stars next summer but it could pave the way for the Gunners to potentially swoop in and land him on a cut-price deal in January.
The Spaniard Still Lacks Consistency
The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner has featured in 12 matches for Man United this season, scoring three goals while creating one assist across multiple competitions. People shouldn’t be fooled by his mediocre goal-scoring record this term as his performances have mostly been impressive during this difficult campaign for United so far.
What Will Mata Add To Emery’s Side?
At 30, the Spanish talent still has a lot to offer as a playmaker and can be considered as one of the most effective facilitators in the English top-flight right now.
Mata has a good eye for a defence-splitting pass in the attacking third while his execution from set-pieces is of the highest quality as evidenced by his goal at Turin this week. Having said that, the former Chelsea midfielder has lost a yard of pace which makes him a frustrated figure when things are not going his way.
Is He The Right Fit For The North London Giants?
It would be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal if they can convince Mata to join Unai Emery’s revolution at the Emirates Stadium. He will add a lot of quality and depth to the Gunners midfield and could give them an edge going forward. However, the Burgos born sensation needs to score more regularly if he wants to continue playing at the highest level.
