Following Arsenal’s 2-1 win (4-3 pens) over AC Milan on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta was seen embracing reported transfer target Ismael Bennacer at full-time, leading to even more speculation surrounding the links.
Various reports have claimed that the Gunners are interested in signing Bennacer after his contract situation at Milan became uncertain. The Algerian international is valued at up to £21.4million by CIES Football Observatory, with his current deal ending in 2024.
In a video uploaded by Twitter user @iOkmm, Arteta was catching up with former Manchester City player Brahim Diaz alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko before fitness coach Sam Wilson brought Bennacer over to him.
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The pair then shook hands and put their arms around each other before breaking into a conversation. However, as it was pointed out to suspicious fans on social media, Arteta and Bennacer used to be Arsenal teammates, hence the friendly interaction.
Arteta and Bennacer only spent around a year together at the club prior to the Spaniard’s retirement in 2016, however, they know each other well having trained at the same time under Arsene Wenger.
Bennacer, meanwhile, left London for Italy in 2017, joining Empoli before catching the eye of AC Milan two years later. It is at the San Siro where the 25-year-old has established himself as a key figure in the heart of central midfield, enjoying a number of impressive performances in both the Serie A and Champions League.
As we know, Arteta has a tendency to target players he knows well, with Gabriel Jesus and the aforementioned Zinchenko two prime examples. Speaking after the Dubai Super Cup match, Arteta was asked about the club’s plans for January and confirmed efforts are being made to strengthen.
“We are looking and we are very active looking at the possibilities,” he said. “If we can find the players that can strengthen the team we will try.”
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