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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Husband

Mikel Arteta drops “different option” hint as Philippe Coutinho plan emerges

Mikel Arteta has hinted that Philippe Coutinho was on Arsenal’s radar, before ultimately deciding to go for a “different option”.

Coutinho had his Barcelona nightmare put on pause earlier this year, with Aston Villa landing the former Liverpool spell on loan during the January window. During his time at the Camp Nou, the Brazilian failed to ever live up to the huge outlay paid for him, scoring just 17 league goals in three-and-a-half seasons in LaLiga.

The 29-year-old opted to leave Barcelona and link up with his former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, now in charge of the Midlands club. And he has enjoyed a career renaissance at Villa Park, scoring four goals and registering three assists in just nine league games.

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