Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is trying to convince a player he knows well to join the Gunners, with club-to-club and agent talks also held.
Arsenal seal narrow 2-1 Champions League win over Slavia Prague
Arsenal collected another Champions League win in Prague, but Mikel Arteta had plenty to chew over after an evening that became far tighter than it needed to be.
The Gunners beat Slavia Prague 2-1 on Wednesday night, with a commanding first half giving way to an uncomfortable battle to protect their lead.
Noni Madueke broke through in the ninth minute after Viktor Gyökeres brought down David Raya’s long delivery and sent him into space. Gyokeres then supplied the finish himself in the 38th minute, combining with Mikel Merino before putting Arsenal two goals ahead.
It was an important contribution from a striker who has spent much of this campaign trying to force his way into Arteta’s preferred side, with some reports even suggesting the Swede was growing frustrated behind-the-scenes.
|
Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Total |
Slavia Prague |
Arsenal |
|
Possession |
43.6% |
56.4% |
|
Total shots |
18 |
12 |
|
Shots on target |
6 |
5 |
|
Shots off target |
6 |
3 |
|
Shots blocked |
6 |
4 |
|
Big chances missed |
3 |
4 |
|
Touches in opposition box |
21 |
29 |
|
Corners |
4 |
2 |
|
Total passes |
362 |
481 |
|
Accurate passes |
300 |
398 |
|
Passing accuracy |
82.9% |
82.7% |
|
Goalkeeper saves |
3 |
4 |
|
Fouls committed |
15 |
10 |
|
Offsides |
3 |
1 |
|
Yellow cards |
1 |
2 |
|
Red cards |
0 |
0 |
Arsenal could have made the scoreline safer before the interval. Merino had opportunities, while the visitors repeatedly found ways through a Slavia side struggling to impose themselves.
That changed after the break.
The hosts pushed higher and Arsenal struggled to keep possession under pressure, and what had looked like a comfortable away assignment suddenly demanded some serious defending.
Gabriel cleared a header off the line, while Raya produced a superb stop to send Oskar Kubiak’s effort against the post. Wiktor Nowak finally scored in the 90th minute, leaving Arsenal with an anxious finish before the points were secured.
Still, three wins and a draw from four European matches is a strong return, and Arsenal moved into third place in the league phase whilst keeping their unbeaten start intact.
The task now is to make those commanding spells last longer, with Wednesday showing both the quality available to Arteta and the improvements he still expects.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s work on possible attacking additions continues, with Odegaard reportedly taking a personal interest in one potential arrival.
Martin Ødegaard urging Antonio Nusa to join Arsenal as transfer talks emerge
Indeed, journalist Mark Brus reports in The Daily Briefing that Odegaard has been encouraging Antonio Nusa to consider joining Arsenal.
The Gunners skipper knows the Leipzig winger through Norway duty and has been promoting the prospect of playing together at club level.
“Martin Odegaard knows Antonio Nusa well from their time with the Norwegian national team,” a source told the outlet.
“He’s been in his ear about joining him at the Emirates, and the hope at Arsenal’s end is that this strategy could push Nusa towards pressuring Leipzig to lower their demands.”
Brus also says Arsenal have held discussions at intervals with Nusa’s representatives and Leipzig as they explore a possible transfer.
That points to groundwork already being done, with Odegaard adding a familiar voice to the effort to persuade his international teammate. The report also suggests Arsenal believe they can negotiate Leipzig’s £60m price down, raising the possibility of a deal for around £45m.
Nusa supplied another reminder of his quality on Wednesday, scoring as Leipzig lost 3-2 to Man City in the Champions League.
Odegaard’s involvement could help Arsenal make their case to the player, but finding terms Leipzig will accept is a separate hurdle.
For Arteta, Nusa would offer another needed attacking option as Arsenal look to compete across a demanding season.
