Arsenal might be able to make an opportunistic signing of one of their longest-standing attacking targets this summer after visual frustration becomes apparent.
The Gunners weren't able to add a senior winger this summer, leaving them short up-front with 19-year-old Marquinhos already having to fill in as a squad player despite his initial intentions being a season-long loan away from the club.
It has left a lot of pressure on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in the opening weeks of the season and could become an area of immense importance as the campaign goes on.
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Despite looking at a host of options, including Yeremy Pino, Pedro Neto, Cody Gakpo and Moussa Diaby, nobody was signed for Mikel Arteta, but they could use some transfer smarts to move and pounce on an unhappy January situation in Spain.
With just 17 minutes of football so far this season and falling behind Eden Hazard in the pecking order, Marco Asensio let all of his frustration out as his Real Madrid side beat Mallorca 4-1. The 26-year-old hasn't started a game for his club this season after being a first-choice player last term.
He made 31 league appearances with 19 starts, scoring an impressive ten goals in the meantime. The development of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, alongside Hazard's return to fitness this week, has seen Asensio no longer one of the main stars of Carlo Ancelotti's European champions.
During the 4-1 win, in-which Asensio was an unused substitute. He looked an angry figure sat on the bench. Not only didn't he show much excitement after Rodrygo's stunning solo goal sealed the game in the 89th minute, but instead, looking perplexed, he had already kicked off when realising he wasn't going to be used by Ancelotti.
On his way back from warming up, Asensio ripped off his bib and flung it towards the bench, kicking out in the process.
When asked about this, Ancelotti was full of sympathy, saying, "If he's angry, I agree with him. It's normal, it means he wants to play, to feel important. In this period, he has been the player most affected in the squad, and I take that into account. I'm totally in agreement with his anger. It's fine."
The Gunners have shown interest in Asensio previously, with an indication this summer that he was still an option reported by Mundo Deportivo and The Mirror. With his contract expiring in 2023, there is a chance that not only could Arsenal sign the tricky winger who burst onto the scene several years ago, but they could also snap him up for free.
Having played with Martin Odegaard in Spain previously, if Arsenal can make the most of his current circumstances and use their own captain to broker a deal, then Arteta could have the answer to his attacking fears.
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