Unai Emery has made a fine start to his managerial career in England, after a nightmare start of two defeats, the Spainard managed to turn tables around in North London with his side winning 11 consecutive matches in all competition which happens to be one of the most impressive plays in Europe as of now.
Emery has not left stone upturned to construct his Arsenal side as serious title contenders. This summer with five players already signed and sealed, the Spaniard will be looking to strengthen his side in the upcoming transfer window.
Arsenal have not been successful in keeping hold of their best players in the past and it looked like things are changing now – but this Aaron Ramsey contract saga just came at the wrong time.
Let’s start with:
Juan Mata to Arsenal; Ramsey to United?
Unai Emery has worked with Juan Mata at La Liga side Valencia from 2008 to 2011 and will be keen to link back up with Mata if he becomes available on a free transfer at the end of season.
It is believed Mata refused to extend his stay at Manchester United as he feels he will not see enough game time, meanwhile Arsenal failed to conclude a deal with Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey last week wanted answers from the North Londoners about his contract offer withdrawn.
He said: ‘We all know the contract has been taken off the table and I still don’t know why because a few weeks before we’d sort of agreed a deal and I was ready to sign.
‘But something happened within the club and I’m not exactly sure what it was.
‘Hopefully one day somebody will come up and tell me why they changed their minds.
‘Maybe I’ll get some clarity when the time is right. If I get some reasons, maybe I can accept them, but that hasn’t happened yet.
‘So all I can do at the moment is get my head down and work as hard as I can to help this team for the rest of the season.’
Ironically, The Welsh superstar is wanted by Manchester United and Juan Mata is lately linked with a reunion with Unai Emery at Emirates.
Juan Mata has loads of experience in England after coming to the country in 2011 when Chelsea signed him up for £23.5 million pounds.
Mata came in at Chelsea with a reputation, reputation of a big player, reputation to succeed. Yossi Benayoun relinquished number ten jersey, gifting it to Juan Mata.
“It is a very important number to me so I’m pleased to be wearing it. I want to thank Yossi,” Mata said
Mata started his Chelsea career on high, he was drafted in as one of the most influential players at Chelsea straight away. Helping the team lift FA Cup and the Champions League. He ended the season with 14 league assists (second highest in the PL after David Silva) and six goals.
His consistency at his new home meant he was awarded Chelsea’s Player of the Year in his first year at Stamford Bridge (which he managed to win again in 2012-13).
Jose Mourinho returned for his second stint as a manager at Chelsea in June 2013 and Mata had just collected his second consecutive Chelsea Player of the Year honor. Despite Mata’s influential performance for Chelsea, he spent lot of time on the bench under new manager Jose Mourinho. The new manager preferred Oscar as a ‘playmaker’.
”In this moment, Oscar is my number ten and, if anyone tells me Oscar has not been Chelsea’s best player this season, I’d have to disagree. I have to prove to the fans that I am good. Now (Mata) must do the same,” Mourinho said in September of the 2013-14 season.
Mata struggled to feature much under Mourinho as he had started just 11 of Chelsea’s 22 Premier League matches. He was keen to enhance his World Cup chances ahead of next summer’s tournament as he pushed a move away from the Blues in order to do so.
He signed for Manchester United in a record transfer deal in January 2014.
Unfortunately the paths Juan Mata and Jose Mourinho crossed again in the City of Manchester when Mourinho was appointed United’s head coach in the summer of 2016. Though people started to question Mata’s role in Mourinho’s Manchester United later into his career at The Old Trafford.
The Spainard denied signing an extension to his contract with Manchester United and was significantly linked to link-up once again with Unai Emery and swap sides, moving to Arsenal.
JUAN MATA – TOP 10 PREMIER LEAGUE GOALS
In fact, Arsenal had already talked off the contract agreement outta the table with Aaron Ramsey and they were looking for someone who can fill in for the Welshman.
If there is a move in January (as it was with Alexis Sanchez last season), we can expect a cash plus player deal. Though it looks like both the clubs will go into summer looking for replacements rather than offloading in January.
Cesc Fabregas returning home?
Cesc Fabregas, who started his professional career with Gunners hints to return to Arsenal at some point in the future. Before moving to Barcelona in 2011, the midfielder spent 8 years with Arsenal winning the FA cup in 2005.
He return back to England in 2014 to join Chelsea – a move that outraged Gooners.
Fabregas enjoyed a successful career at The Stamford Bridge but is not exactly looked in the plans of new manager at helm Maurizio Sarri. He is yet to start a game for the Blues in Premier League this season.
It is understood that Chelsea are highly unlikely to offer him a new deal and could be on his way out in the summer or maybe in January.
You would expect Cesc to attract interests from around the world but the Spainard admits a return to his beloved Arsenal would be difficult to turn down and be a ‘perfect’ place to end his career.
“Arsenal will always be in my heart and I will never forget them so why not return. You never know,” Cesc Fabregas told Marca.
“I feel fine still. In seven months my contract ends with Chelsea.
“It will be 16 seasons playing at the highest level, over 750 games, a lot of training, travelling…
“I feel young and strong but maybe I can’t do 60 games a season.
“With my style I think I can keep playing for longer and obviously I want to keep playing for many years.”
CESC FABREGAS ARSENAL THE LOVE STORY
Can they replicate Aaron Ramsey?
Aaron Ramsey have been purely classic for Arsenal over the years. Ramsey is highly criticised due to his over-commitments in attacks. Many times when he was playing as a defensive midfielder you could see him near oppositions penalty area. And Arsenal have without a doubt paid price for his lack of defensive commitment.
Initially he was criticized for the lack of balance between his offensive and defensive duties, but over the years he has matured and shown us he is not a ‘box-to-box midfielder’ which Arsene Wenger once claimed him to be..in-fact he is probably if not the best, one of the best central attacking midfielder in the Premier League. Now, there had been times where Juan Mata as well as Cesc Fabregas were regarded in the same category and unsurprisingly both of them are linked with a move to replace Aaron Ramsey.
On their days all three of them possess qualities to snatched the match away alone. Talking about if they can replicate what Ramsey has did at Arsenal? – Yes, they definitely can. But both of them are over their age to feature and give one hundred percent week-in-week-out.
ARSENAL CORE’s VIEW:
Personally, I would keep Aaron Ramsey over any one right now. But with it being clear that The Welshman is leaving and Arsenal are looking for a straight replacement, both Juan Mata and Cesc Fabregas can fill in. Yet I will bring in some third person, someone young, someone who has potential to fill-in for years.
Though if I had to choose between Juan Mata and Cesc Fabregas – I would love to bring back Cesc ‘captain’ Fabregas back home and make sure he ends his career right.
