Ivan Fresneda has described Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as a "great coach" - sparking rumours of a summer transfer to the Emirates.
Fresneda, 18, is enjoying a breakthrough season with Valladolid. The teenage right-back, who is a regular for Spain's U19 team, has made 17 LaLiga appearances this season to help the Spanish minnows climb five points clear of the relegation zone.
Fresneda's impressive displays have attracted interest from several clubs - including Arsenal, Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. The Gunners face a battle if they want to sign the talent, but they will be more confident of landing him after his recent admission.
In an interview with The Athletic, Fresneda was asked for his opinion on Arteta. He replied: "I like Arteta a lot because I think he’s a great coach; I follow the European leagues and I think the work he’s doing with his club is fantastic."
Yet Fresneda also praised Valladolid boss Paulo Pezzolano and his predecessor Pacheta, who was sacked earlier this month. The player added: "But now with Pezzolano and before with Pacheta we do that style of play, and that style is the one I like the most."
Fresneda hit the headlines in December after keeping Vinicius Junior, one of the best wingers in the world, quiet during a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid at Valladolid. Pacheta told reporters: "He is a good right-back, who also played a brilliant game against Real Madrid."
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Arsenal attempted to sign Fresneda in January, but the emerging defender rejected a move because he wanted to play regularly at Valladolid. The Gunners already have two right-backs on their books in Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
"There have been around 30 teams interested," Fresneda's agent Luis Bardaji told AS in January. "But the truth is that he has hardly aroused interest in Spanish football, but in Germany, France or England there has been interest. Some because they had a specific need in this market and others with a vision of the future, but times are what they are.
"Fresneda will be at Real Valladolid until the end of the season. We want him to have his feet on the ground and in other teams he was not going to have the continuity he needs now."
Bardaji added: "Over the weekend we already informed Real Valladolid that there was not going to be any offer, that he was not going to leave in the winter market.
"For us it is not a bad situation, no drama, quite the opposite. Ivan is happy to play for Real Valladolid, to be under the orders of Pacheta, who is the one who has allowed him to enjoy the way he is doing now.
"If one day he has to leave, we would like it to be a historic sale for the club."
