_**Arsenal are thought to be progressing well in their bid to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga \[David Horton/SPP\]**_
ASKED recently what superpower would he have, Mikel Arteta picked two: one being the ability to “freeze moments and pause”.
It’s a fitting choice really; one that a number of Arsenal supporters might just feel they can relate to. They have been stuck in their very own strikerless moment – frozen in time, waiting for their club to sign a forward that will end all their suffering.
Yet, the somewhat unpalatable transfer window appetiser aimed at feeding those taking part in the football-bloating FIFA Club World Cup closed on Tuesday evening without Arsenal signing a single player. Although the news that Gabriel Magalhaes has agreed a new long-term contract until 2029 could prove a sizeable moment.
And there is reason for even more hope on the horizon, as the saying goes: patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
The Gunners are said to be just a medical away from recruiting one of the most sought-after defensive midfielders in world football in Martin Zubimendi, with some reports suggesting the only reason pen hasn’t already hit paper on a £55million deal is due to Financial Fair Play rules and the desire to register the signing for the next year, which doesn’t start until July 1.
Arsenal are also progressing well in their bid to sign Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Supporters wouldn’t be blamed for being sick of the sight of shot-stoppers arriving at the Emirates having seen six signed during Arteta’s tenure.
And they would certainly be justified in wanting the club to stop doing business with the Blues as it’s an algorithm that rarely ends well for the north Londoners.
But to get a keeper once worth a world record transfer fee of £71.8m, and who, at 30, could be argued is entering his prime, for in the region of just £5m can only be deemed a great deal for Arsenal, who are looking for experienced cover and competition for David Raya.
Then comes the big one: a striker.
Arsenal’s No 1 target appears to be RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, who is believed to be ready to turn down any approach to lure him to Saudi Arabia as he has his sights set on a move to the Premier League.
Sesko has scored 39 goals in 87 games for Leipzig since joining the German club two years ago.
The 22-year-old is rumoured to be beyond keen to join the Gunners – meaning that personal terms on a deal should be pretty straight forward.
That just leaves the two clubs to strike a deal before any more bidders join the race, with Leipzig holding firm on their £65m asking price.
Still wondering what other superpower Arteta said he wanted?
The Gunners boss told the club’s official website: “One would be the capacity to heal people. That would be for sure the one. If I could keep everybody safe and healthy and I had the power to do that, there’s nothing better to do in life. The second one, if I could freeze moments and pause, look around and enjoy the present moment, because things go that fast and in this society everything is 100mph. It would be great to say ‘stop’ in this moment and read your body language, how we’re feeling about this, what we’re doing, and say ‘OK, now I’m ready to go to the next one.’
“We’ve just seen supporters from all these different parts of the world and, when you look at their smiles, they all have the Arsenal shirt, it’s the capacity that football has – to unite and connect people around the world with one passion – a football club, a player or something that makes you feel in a special way. It’s just fascinating.”