"He fits the Arsenal midfield perfectly" - Emmanuel Petit urges Gunners to sign ex-Manchester United star who is out for 'revenge'

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has stated that the Gunners should consider taking a chance on Paul Pogba. Petit believes the former Manchester United midfielder would fit “perfectly” into Mikel Arteta’s plans.

Pogba rejoined Manchester United in 2016 for a reported fee of £89 million. He displayed glimpses of the potential he showed at Juventus, but injuries hindered his progress, and he eventually returned to Juventus in 2022.

Since then, however, his career has stalled, with Pogba making only 12 appearances in two seasons. He tested positive for testosterone and received a four-year suspension last year, which has since been reduced to 18 months. This reduction means he will be able to resume training in January and return to competitive play in March 2025.

Petit, who won a Premier League and FA Cup title with Arsenal, has suggested that his former club should take a gamble on Pogba, given his undeniable qualities and the added motivation to prove himself.

“Honestly, Arsenal should 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,” Petit said. "There is a motivation that is priceless to a manager like Mikel Arteta."

"Pogba fits the Arsenal midfield perfectly, he’s tall, strong and very creative. We all know how good a happy Pogba is, he needs love and to be given confidence, I think Arteta and Arsenal can offer this to him," he added (via Team Talk).

Petit also mentioned that Pogba is currently working hard to get "revenge" and stated that the French national team has also felt his absence.

"Pogba wants revenge, he wants to prove to himself and fans around the world that he’s not finished yet. France’s team have missed him. He’s apparently working very hard to get back to match fitness. I know Pogba’s personality, I know he’ll do anything to come back on the pitch,” he added.

For now, Pogba will focus on regaining match fitness and playing for Juventus. However, reports indicate that the Italian club plans to part ways with him, even though his contract runs until June 2026.

“It’s about how we react” - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after defeat to Newcastle United

Arsenal find themselves in a difficult position, as they currently sit fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. They are winless in their last three Premier League games, including a recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle United.

This defeat has intensified the pressure on the Gunners in the title race, but Mikel Arteta emphasized that it’s all about how his team responds in their next match.

"I understand that the last eight, nine, 10 games last year we didn’t talk about it, and we’re not going to talk about it now. It’s about how we react. We’re not going to find the right answers or words right now to describe, but how we feel, we certainly have to put it out on that field on Wednesday night against Inter,” he said (via Arsenal's official website).

After their midweek Champions League clash with Inter Milan, the Gunners are set to face another challenging fixture against Chelsea before the international break.