Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has urged caution over transfer rumours linking the club with PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but acknowledged that the left side of Arsenal’s attack is the area most in need of strengthening this summer.
Winterburn pointed to the inconsistency of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli this season as evidence that Arsenal may look to bring in additional quality on the flank, while stopping short of dismissing either player’s ability.
“When we start throwing names around, we start to assume they’d want to join Arsenal. You have to be very, very careful.
“I don’t know how far we want to go back but let’s go halfway through the season, I’d say Trossard was the wide player in form, with the most goals, I think and most assists or chances created. He switched a bit with Martinelli, who had that unbelievable run of scoring in four-five games.
“Trossard was injured and I don’t think he’s come back to his highest level. Martinelli is in and out of the team.
“I suppose you’d say that if Arsenal are looking at upgrading a position, then it would be on that left hand side. That’s not hiding from the fact or saying that the other two aren’t good. They are good players but you’re asking ‘would the club be looking at someone who can take it to the next level’?
“I think Mikel Arteta and the club would say that we’re doing that with every position. Certain positions would be very hard to upgrade but you keep looking and keep trying because if the window opens for you to get somebody, you go ahead and take it.
“Kvaratskhelia, boy oh boy, if he knocked on the door and said I want to come to Arsenal, I don’t think many people would say, ‘no, thank you’. I think they’d be saying, ‘if we can afford you, come on in’.”
Winterburn’s comments come after rumours made the rounds this week linking Arsenal with Kvaratskhelia, but transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano stated this week that PSG have no intention of selling the player this summer, with the Georgian having only joined the French club from Napoli in January 2025.
