Arsenal take on Sporting in the Europa League this evening that means potentially facing defender Ousmane Diomande – a recent Gunners target.
Arsenal fans have probably just about calmed down after Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 Premier League win over Bournemouth.
Premier League football takes a back seat tonight though as Arsenal focus on the Europa League.
Mikel Arteta takes his Gunners side to Lisbon to take on Sporting in what could be a real banana skin.
Ruben Amorim’s men beat Tottenham 2-0 at home in the Champions League group stage and would love to beat the other big North London side.
There has been plenty of focus placed on Hector Bellerin and the possibility of him lining up against Arsenal tonight.
Another interesting name is Sporting defender Diomande, who was an Arsenal target in the January transfer window.
Final score: Sporting CP 1:2 FC Porto. (Photo by Bruno de Carvalho/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Arsenal to come up against recent target Ousmane Diomande
Diomande was a somewhat surprising name in the mix for Arsenal during January.
Mais Futebol and CNN Portugal reporter Bruno Andrade claimed in January that Arsenal were looking to sign Diomande from Midtjylland.
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The Ivorian defender has shining on loan at Portuguese second-tier side Mafra and put himself on Arsenal’s radar.
Andrade added that Arsenal explored a deal to buy Diomande and loan him to Sporting – but their need for a new midfielder meant the move was abandoned.
Sporting did end up signing Diomande permanently, including an €80million (£71million) release clause in his contract.
The 19-year-old made be seen as one for the future but he is already showing real potential with Sporting.
Diomande played the full 90 minutes against Portimonsense last weekend and could be involved against Arsenal tonight.
Diomande may be in a battle with Jeremiah St Juste for a starting role tonight, joining Sebastian Coates and Goncalo Inacio in a back three.
St Juste has now told Record that he thinks Diomande is an ‘excellent’ player at this early stage of his career – and Arsenal will already know all about him ahead of potentially facing him in Lisbon.
“He’s an excellent player, a great teammate, we have a good relationship,” said St Juste. “We have a lot of good defenders who can compete at the highest level. That’s what I think.”
In other news, Liverpool target Angelo Gabriel available at £10m after Newcastle bid
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