Patrick Vieira, a former captain of Arsenal, has experience leading teams to Premier League success.
The uncertainty surrounding Ilkay Gundogan’s contract situation at Manchester City has led many vultures to perch in the Etihad rafters, so the former France international is undoubtedly in a good position to judge a man who may be about to follow in his North London footsteps.
When news broke that Granit Xhaka would be moving back to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, it was assumed that Arsenal would look to sign a younger player. For instance, a Declan Rice. Possibly a Moises Caicedo.
However, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, reportedly wants to sign a player two years older than Xhaka. Gundogan more than makes up for his lack of youth, however, with his championship-winning experience, leadership, and pure, unadulterated quality.
Ilkay Gundogan, a hero at Manchester City, will Arsenal steal him?
Gundogan has stepped out of Erling Haaland’s long shadow while producing more ‘clutch’ moments than a play-off Michael Jordan to carry Manchester City over the finish line once more as Arsenal buckled under the pressure, their hopes of a first Premier League title in 20 years extinguished by a dreadfully-untimely run of two wins in eight matches.
Vieira remarked, “He is really a top player,” after Gundogan scored two distinct but equally magnificent goals in Man City’s 3-0 victory over Everton, including one that Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, the Frenchman’s former teammates, would have been proud to claim as their own.
Premier League champions laud the impact of one another.
“The technical ability to put the ball where he wants to,” Vieira continues. He is very shrewd in how he timed his run into the box. He ranks among the league’s best.
“Among the best”
Gundogan has eight goals in the Premier League so far this year. The majority of those came in his most recent two games, wins over Leeds and Everton that helped Pep Guardiola’s team pass longtime leaders Arsenal and take the top spot.
The contract of the foreign player from Germany expires in July. It may be difficult for a team with Manchester City’s limitless resources to find a player who can duplicate Gundogan’s remarkable propensity for title-deciding interventions.
Only time will tell, however, if the 32-year-old intends to leave City for a squad that appears to be headed for a distant second place. There may be some appeal in the chance to reconnect with Arteta, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko while sharing all that knowledge with a young and impressionable group.
However, from the perspective of Arsenal, it doesn’t take a UEFA A licence or ten years of experience as a sporting director to understand what Gundogan would bring to the Emirates Stadium.
