Arsenal eye £40m Real Madrid star to solve one of Mikel Arteta's biggest problems

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Real Madrid's young talent Arda Guler, who hasn't seen much action at the Bernabeu this season. The 20-year-old has been limited to just 11 starts across competitions due to the depth of star players at Madrid.

Despite his limited playtime, Guler has managed to catch the eye and is now on the radar of several clubs looking to provide him with more opportunities on the pitch. The Sun reports that the Gunners are one of those clubs mulling over a bid for the midfielder.

Guler reportedly carries a £40million price tag at Real Madrid, and there are suggestions within the club corridors that he should part ways to unlock his full potential akin to Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard, who also departed from Madrid in 2021.

The Madrid prodigy recently garnered attention after a tussle with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai after a UEFA Nations League encounter between Turkey and Hungary. After Turkey beat Hungary 6-1 on aggregate in their playoff match, Szoboszlai expressed his displeasure by being shushed during the return fixture, reports the Mirror.

An image capturing Guler's silencing gesture went viral on Instagram, prompting Szoboszlai to comment "1088", reflecting the total minutes he had logged for Madrid. Guler, though, fired back on his Instagram story as he wrote: "This guy is a joke. Isn't 6 goals enough to shut you up?" Guler's statement was also followed by a shushing face emoji.

Guler has addressed the swirling rumours about his future with Los Blancos, affirming his commitment to the squad. Last month he confidently stated, "Madrid gave me a plan and I still believe in it," unequivocally expressing his optimism for success at the club.

Despite speculation over his future at Madrid, Guler has insisted he is happy to stay and fight for more opportunities. "Madrid gave me a plan and I still believe in it," he said last month.

"I'm sure I'll succeed at Real Madrid, I've even bought a house in Madrid. I work very hard and I'm always ready to play. I love Real Madrid fans, and their support means a lot to me.

"I'm very grateful. I came to Real Madrid to play and be an important part of this team. And I won't stop fighting until I achieve that."

Guler, if he were to make the move to Arsenal, would add attacking depth to Mikel Arteta's squad, which is something that the Gunners have been lacking at times this season. Capable of playing right wing and in attacking midfield, Guler would add something different should a transfer be completed.

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