Arsenal move for Antoine Griezmann would be seven years in the making

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Arsenal were linked with a move for world-class attacker Antoine Griezmann during the weekend (Sport) and if a deal can come to fruition it would be seven years in the making.

In 2013, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reportedly left the Frenchman waiting, before deciding against a deal to sign him from Real Sociedad at the eleventh hour.

In rather comical fashion in hindsight, Wenger chose to land another French forward in the form of Yaya Sonogo who played just 17 games for the Gunners in four years at the club.

Griezmann told The Telegraph in 2017 of his failed Arsenal move and it’s fair to say he was upset at the time with how the Gunners handled it.

His agent Eric Olhats and ex-Arsenal defender turned scout Gilles Grimandi were trying to force through a deal with the North London-based giants.

Griezmann told The Telegraph: “I waited, I waited and I kept waiting. When there was no news, Eric called Grimandi, who said that the manager was still interested in me and to keep waiting.

“Finally a few hours before the market closed, he let us know Arsenal would not make a move. I don’t like to be told something and for it not to happen.

“So when Eric told me later that the London club were interested again I told him: ‘Forget it, after the blow they gave us.”

Bygones

If Griezmann were in a position, as reports suggest, to be considering a new club again, surely he’d be willing to look at Arsenal again.

It’s now seven years since his first setback with the Gunners and a lot has changed during that time.

For starters, Wenger has now sailed off into the sunset and the exciting managerial prodigy that is Mikel Arteta is sat in the hot seat.

Under the Spaniard, the Gunners have looked to be on the up and it’ll be interesting to see if Griezmann would fancy a move to Arsenal.

Not having Champions League football on offer might make life tricky; whilst the finances will be extortionate.

With 14 goals from his 37 appearances during 2019/20, the man paid £294,000-a-week is valued at £92 million by Barcelona (Daily Mail).