Arsenal sent come-and-get-me plea by 'next Martin Odegaard' after cult hero endorses move

Aleksandr Golovin has revealed that he would be open to joining Arsenal if the Gunners come calling for him this summer. Golovin, who is currently at Monaco, has drawn comparisons with Martin Odegaard thanks to his impressive range of passing in addition to his long-range shooting ability.

The 28-year-old registered 12 goal contributions in 25 league appearances for Monaco last season but missed the end of the campaign with an ankle injury. He has also shone on the international stage with Russia, most notably at the World Cup in 2018 when he helped them reach the quarter-finals.

Golovin remains tied down to Monaco until the summer of 2026, meaning the Ligue 1 outfit are under no pressure to sell him to another club this summer. However, it seems as though he would be open to taking up a new challenge in the Premier League with Arsenal.

Discussing his future ahead of the new season, Golovin insisted he was not actively seeking an exit but named a few clubs with the potential to change his mind.

“I like where I am now, even more than in previous years,” he said. “We have the strongest [Monaco] team of all time, the coach is also the most successful. So, right now, I’m not thinking about switching.

“But if you move, then only to top clubs. PSG, Manchester City, Real Madrid. I would also say Arsenal, because I have always had sympathy for this club.”

Arsenal were heavily linked with Golovin in 2018, with a host of clubs taking notice of his talents during that year’s World Cup. A move to the Emirates Stadium failed to materialise, though, and he ended up joining Monaco where he remains to this day.

Gunners cult hero Alexander Hleb has already made it clear that he would welcome Golovin at his former club, telling Championat earlier this year: “Every footballer wants to reach a higher level. I think that Aleksandr himself will decide where to move. If you want to grow, you must move forward.

“Monaco are a good European team, but they are not at the top. If there are offers from top clubs, then it’s time to move on and set higher goals for yourself. But you need to approach this wisely; go where the system suits your style. We need a team that plays beautiful combination football.

“The main thing is that the coach wants to see you on the team and trusts you. We need to weigh up everything. Golovin would fit well into these teams. Barcelona and Arsenal football suits him.”