Potential Arsenal Signing Would Be ‘Bigger Statement’ Than Gabriel Jesus – Ally McCoist

Former footballer Ally McCoist has given his endorsement to Arsenal‘s interest in Ilkay Gundogan, suggesting that signing the Manchester City midfielder would make a more significant statement than Gabriel Jesus’ arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

Last summer, Arsenal secured the signings of Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, and they are now eyeing another key player from Pep Guardiola’s title-winning squad for the upcoming transfer window.

Gundogan, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, has piqued the interest of Arsenal, who see the German star as a valuable addition to their midfield.

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While Manchester City is eager to retain Gundogan’s services for at least one more season, the 32-year-old has yet to commit, as he stands to receive a significant signing-on fee if he joins a new club on a free transfer.

McCoist believes that securing Gundogan’s signature would send shockwaves throughout the footballing world and elevate Arsenal’s status in the game.

The former footballer considers the potential acquisition of Gundogan to be a statement that surpasses the impact of Gabriel Jesus’ arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

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‘This is an interesting one,’ the Rangers and Scotland legend told talkSPORT. ‘What a statement that would be.

‘It would be a bigger statement than Jesus. It would be a bigger statement than Zinchenko, for me.

‘You would be getting a brilliant player. The age factor doesn’t really come into it, nowadays, for 32-year-olds. They have kept themselves meticulously fit and they are great professionals. And he is certainly that.

‘The only negative is that you don’t have a sell-on. But that’s balanced by the fact that you are going to get him on a free transfer.

‘He is a big occasion player, that’s exactly what he is. Everybody will be after him.’

Gundogan has won five Premier League titles since joining Manchester City in 2016 and scored four goals in his last four appearances to help Guardiola’s side overhaul long-time leaders Arsenal and reach the Champions League final.

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Earlier this month, Guardiola described Gundogan as ‘one of the best players’ he has ever worked with.

He said: ‘I remember one season when we won the second Premier League when Fernandinho was injured for a long time and he played as holding midfielder in games like against Burnley away with the long balls, second balls and… wow… he played.

‘I said I had the feeling that without him we couldn’t win the Premier League. But we’ve got Gundo and he’s so intelligent, so clever and competitive.

‘Under pressure he handles it without a problem. He’s one of the best players I ever trained in my career in terms of the whole package. He’s top, top class.’

Manchester City secured a third successive league title at the weekend and will look to complete a historic treble next month when they face Inter Milan and Manchester United in the Champions League and FA Cup finals respectively.