Arsenal should move for ‘top’ 22-year-old after shock defeat, Thierry Henry reportedly loves him – TBR View

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Arsenal could hardly have gained a better opportunity to swoop for Odsonne Edouard in wake of Wednesday night’s shock European defeat for his club.

The Gunners have been linked with the French striker for a number of months, a March report in The Mirror claiming he was in Mikel Arteta’s sights for the summer.

Speculation continued to build heading towards the summer, with The Express claiming in May that Arsenal were leading Newcastle United in the race to snap Edouard up.

On Wednesday, Celtic boss Neil Lennon was unable to call on the 22-year-old, who was out injured as Hungary’s Ferencvaros ran out 2-1 winners at Parkhead.

The result saw the Bhoys eliminated from the Champions League in the second qualifying round, their earliest exit from the competition in 15 years.

After the game, Lennon shouldered the blame for the defeat, but also questioned the commitment of unnamed players he says want to leave the club.

“There are some players who may want to leave and have made inroads into that over the last six months or so,” he is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying.

“If they don’t want to be here, we have to do something about it.

“If they are making waves to leave the club they are obviously not committed. I’m putting it out there because it has been bugging me for a long time.”

The Daily Record went on to name Edouard in their list of “5 Celtic players on alert” after Lennon’s “shock ‘get out’ notice”.

That said, the outlet also noted how the Frenchman has been a “model professional” throughout his entire time in Glasgow, and is unlikely to agitate for a move.

However, the reality is, Celtic’s hopes of a Champions League run are over for another season, and Edouard could well be thinking he’s gone as far as he can with his club.

“He wants to play at the top level, and he will play at the top level because he’s a top player,” Ally McCoist told talkSPORT earlier today. “It’s given him something to think about.”

McCoist also previously spoke of how Arsenal legend Thierry Henry “personally really, really thinks he’s got a chance of going right to the top” (Daily Record).

Of course, Arsenal aren’t in the Champions League this term either, but things at the Emirates Stadium are looking the most optimistic they’ve been in a long time with Mikel Arteta at the helm.

The Spaniard is wasting no time in stamping his mark on the team, bringing in high-calibre players and freezing out those who don’t fit his criteria – and has already been rewarded with his first major trophy as Gunners boss.

The future looks bright at Arsenal, and with the team Arteta is putting together, a Premier League title challenge and Champions League qualification isn’t at all unrealistic this coming season.

And if it all goes to plan this term, regular title challenges and Champions League runs could be on the cards – exactly what Edouard’s talents would merit.