Barcelona midfielder, Arda Turan, has revealed that he could've joined Arsenal before the Catalans last summer. The Turkish international joined Luis Enrique's side last summer for around €34m and has since joined a midfield with superstars like Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
Arsenal were on the lookout for a midfielder in the summer but none of their first choice players worked out. Barcelona snapped up the Atletico Madrid man and even though he couldn't play till January – because of Barcelona's registration embargo – Turan chose the Catalans over the Gunners.
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Speaking to reporters whilst on International duty, Turan revealed his preferred playing style and how he came to choose between Arsenal and Barcelona. “I felt that I would sign for Barca.," he told Diari Ara.
"I thought: ‘If I play very well I will end up signing for Barca, because my style fits in with this team. If I play well, I will end up at Arsenal.”
Turan has gone on to make 14 appearances for the defending La Liga and Champions League champions this season and has already scored 2 goals while assisting 3 goals for his teammates to put away.
A robust left midfielder, Turan was widely touted to join the Catalans much before the initial announcement given his playing style and skill but a move to the Premier League wouldn't have gotten him the chance to play with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Meanwhile, Arsenal finally signed an outfield player in Mohamed Elneny from Swiss side Basel for a unofficial €10m. The Gunners continue to look for a striker who is capable of putting away chances with ease given they have true playmakers in the like of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla.
Juventus' Alvaro Morata is widely touted as a possible replacement for Olivier Giroud while Mauro Icardo and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang are also names Arsene Wenger is monitoring.
