Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are serious in their pursuit of Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan this summer, with the Gunners boss a keen admirer of the German.
The pair worked alongside each other while Arteta was Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad and the Spaniard is keen on reuniting at the Emirates next season according to reports. Gundogan's City contract expires at the end of this season and as a result a number of clubs are keeping tabs on the situation.
LaLiga titans Barcelona are another outfit thought to be plotting a swoop for Gundogan if he fails to agree an extension at the Etihad, but he may favour working under Arteta once again instead.
The Arsenal manager has waxed lyrical over the City skipper on a number of occasions. Speaking in February 2021, Arteta heaped praise on Gundogan as he told reporters: "Well I think now he's playing a higher role in the team.
"He's always had the ability to arrive in the box and has great timing and great qualities to finish the actions. Before he played a deeper role and he had the license to do that. He's a tremendous player and he's doing really, really well this season."
Months later, before City faced Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arteta was at it again, adding: "Maybe he [Gundogan] doesn't shine, but he allows others to shine."
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That particular comment from Arteta went down notably well with Gundogan, who told L'Equipe: "I really like this quote, I often use it to describe my game. It's important to have a clear idea of how you can help your teammates or not. I have never been selfish and never will be.
"Often we focus too much on the players who finish the actions, not on those who initiated them, or those who lay the foundations of the game."
The duo clearly think very highly of each other and could soon be working together once again, though Gundogan has been coy in regards to his future.
"There are talks in the background,” the 32-year-old explained. "That's normal with just a couple of months left but without going too much into detail there is nothing decided yet from my side or the club's side so the talks are continuing.
"If there's a decision, you guys will be the first ones to know."
With Granit Xhaka set to call time on his seven-year Arsenal stay in the summer, Gundogan could be the ideal replacement to ensure the Gunners dressing room doesn't have a dramatic shortage of experience.
