ARSENAL have been urged to take a sensational gamble on Paul Pogba.
That is the recommendation of Invincibles star Emmanuel Petit, who reckons the former Manchester United midfielder would be the perfect addition to Mikel Arteta‘s squad.
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Pogba, 31, has abandoned the idea of retirement after seeing a drug ban sentence reduced from four years to 18 months.
The Juventus star tested positive for the banned substance DHEA, which naturally boosts testosterone production, before the suspension was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Having not played since September 2023, this ruling will allow him to return to competitive action next year, being allowed to train from January before playing in a match in March.
However, he is understood to be in negotiations to leave the Turin outfit.
That has opened the door for speculation on where he could end up playing his football.
And fellow France World Cup winner Petit has recommended his former club take a punt on Pogba.
He told Jeffbet: “Honestly, Arsenal should 100 per cent gamble on signing Paul Pogba. He will give everything on the pitch.
“It will take him a few weeks to get fully fit, but he will be so eager to wash his name. There is a motivation that is priceless to a manager like Mikel Arteta.”
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Petit is not the only Arsenal hero to back the club gambling on signing him.
He actually echoed the opinion of French defender Bacary Sagna, who said last month: “The Premier League suits Paul Pogba – I would love to see him joining Arsenal.
“It would be great – he has experience; he loves to play with young players around him – that is when he is most efficient.
“At the 2018 World Cup, that was when he was most efficient – he had friends around him.
“Arsenal have a young, fresh team, and I see him performing in an Arsenal shirt. He will get love from their fans.
“Now, he can start from scratch again – he’s had time away from football, and he’ll be back with a desire to get back into a good space and play football again.”
However, Petit did admit to doubts over the prospect of Pogba playing top-level football again, despite clearly being talented enough for it.
He added to Mail Sport: “I’m very happy for him, very happy for him. But he’s right now, 31 or 32, something like that, the last time he played a proper game was a year ago, in September.
Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle
ARSENAL fell to defeat to Newcastle in a fresh blow to their title ambitions.
The Magpies won 1-0 thanks to a fine header from Alexander Isak.
Here, SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates the players…
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Great early distribution to go long over the Newcastle press but nothing he could do with Isak’s pin-point header.
Was barely troubled in the second half but was forced to watch a lacklustre Arsenal dawdle to another defeat.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Looks really comfortable in that role, even if it is only temporary, but obviously lacks an attacking threat of a full-back which hindered Saka slightly.
Moved back into midfield on the hour mark with Arsenal chasing the game.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
A welcome presence back in the defensive line following suspension. Covered his defensive partner well and kept his cool amid Arsenal’s frustration.
GABRIEL – 5
Lost Isak in the box for Newcastle’s opener and nearly handed the hosts another chance with a sloppy pass out.
Normally a rock, this was one of those rare jittery displays we thought were a thing of the past.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 6
Looked good in attack but arguably should have closed down Gordon’s cross before the hosts took the lead and struggled to contain the England winger in the first half.
MIKEL MERINO – 5
Unfortunate not to get on the score sheet against his former club from close range after a scramble from a corner.
But as a whole, he currently looks lost in his position, unsure of when to go and when to sit deep, meaning Newcastle were able to prize Arsenal’s midfield open.
Feels like we are not seeing the best of him just yet.
DECLAN RICE – 6
On set-piece duty, his delivery was unusually poor, failing to beat the first man on numerous occasions and struggled to impose himself in open play too, even if he came close with a deflected effort in the second half before fluffing a great headed chance in injury time.
If he is going to be the anchor of this team and dictate play, he has got to be a lot better.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
Pretty anonymous other than a few surging runs. Another player that looks lost in a floating No.10 role behind the main striker.
The Belgian is at his best cutting in and using his blistering pace. He can do neither through the middle against a compact opposition set-up.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Looked to be getting the better of Toon right-back Hall early on but his game faded after that, along with his team’s.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Showed glimpses of being back to his buzzing best, taking on defenders and stretching the game for Arsenal, but only lasted an hour before being taken off.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
Never got a sniff, but got to put that down to a complete lack of service from Arsenal’s wide players. He was desperate to attack a decent cross that never really came.
SUBS:
ETHAN NWANERI (MERINO, 61) – 6
Given a nice welcome to Tyneside with a crunching tackle from Willock seconds after coming on.
Found some nice pockets of space and look sharp as he blazed one over from range, but was always a big ask for him to be Arsenal’s saviour.
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (MARTINELLI, 61) – 5
Thrown on to bring tempo and control. Brought neither from an inverted left-back position.
BEN WHITE (TIMBER, 71) – 6
Had only completed half a session to prepare for this one having picked up a knock against Liverpool last weekend, so was a surprise to even see him at all.
GABRIEL JESUS (TROSSARD) – 5
Tasked with creating something special from out wide, but there is a reason the Brazilian is only a bit-part player nowadays.
JORGINHO (PARTEY, 86) – N/A
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“For me, it will be a miracle if he can come back at the highest level. He’s got the quality as a footballer. Can he get the energy as a human being to fill the expectation? I’m not really convinced about that.”
Discussing his doping ban last month, Pogba told Sky Sports: “I am not a cheater.”
“I accept responsibility of taking the supplement but I didn’t triple-check it – even if it came from a professional.
“If I have to be punished, then I’m fine with it. But it should never have been four years. I will accept 12 months. When you see me, you know me. People know me.
“So even when everything happened people said: ‘We know Paul, he would never take that. If he did, he wouldn’t have known and it won’t have been on purpose’.
“And this it totally the truth. I’m an honest person, I would say it.”
Arsenal were defeated 1-0 by Newcastle on Saturday, losing ground in the title race and dropping to fifth place, seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The North Londoner’s view on a deal may have changed after bombshell news that sporting director Edu would be leaving to take up a triple-your-money position at Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ footballing empire.
How Edu made Arsenal great again
By Jack Rosser
EDU GASPAR has been on a mission to ‘Make Arsenal Great Again’ ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.
After a few wobbles early on – signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well – the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club’s transformation.
Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu’s return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.
Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.
Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.
Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe’s biggest talents once more.
Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.
While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too – picking out value where others have lost hope.
Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.
Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta – who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director’s departure – but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.
London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.
