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The Champions League last-16 draw playing out in Arsenal's favour may see them come up against a wonderkid transfer target
Arsenal could be set to face a transfer target in the Champions League who is being tipped to become the best in the world in his position. The Gunners avoided the play-off round by finishing top of the league standings and have now discovered their potential last-16 opponents.
Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund were paired with Arsenal and second-placed Bayern Munich. The two German sides held the advantage from the first leg and while Leverkusen held on against Greek opposition, Atalanta staged a stunning comeback against Dortmund to win with the last kick of the game.
It is more likely that Arsenal would prefer to face the Serie A side, and if that is the way Friday's draw goes, they will not only come up against former player Sead Kolasinac but also transfer target Honest Ahanor.
According to Caught Offside, several Premier League clubs, which include Arsenal and Chelsea, are closely monitoring him, claiming some club officials have watched him live this season.
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The 18-year-old defender only joined Atalanta last summer in a deal worth €20million (£17.5m) from Genoa and he is very highly rated in Italy. That was proven by recent comments from former Inter and AC Milan striker Aldo Serena, who made his feelings perfectly clear on the youngster.
He wrote on X: “I don’t usually bet, but I could make an exception for Ahanor. I feel confident saying that by the age of 20, he will be one of the best in the world in his position."
Ahanor is not quite a regular starter in Atalanta's back three just yet, but he has made a handful of senior appearances, including a 17-minute cameo in the comeback over Dortmund.
In order to impress those suitors, the teenager will almost certainly want to come against the very best. It could also allow Mikel Arteta to have a closer look at the central defender who could be his long-term replacement for Gabriel Magalhaes.
Assuming Arsenal get past either Atalanta or Leverkusen, a quarter-final against Manchester City could arrive if Pep Guardiola's side get beyond Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid.
The two teams are already locked in an intense Premier League title race that the Gunners are currently leading, and they will contest a Carabao Cup final in late March.
Less than a month on from that Wembley showpiece, City and Arsenal face off at Etihad Stadium in a clash that could ultimately decide the title.
Before then, Arsenal face Chelsea, Brighton and Everton in the Premier League, with an FA Cup fifth round tie away to Mansfield Town on the cards.
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