Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the touchline (Getty Images)
Arsenal are exploring a move for Hammarby’s teenage forward Emil Roback but they will face competition from Bayern Munich. (h/t The Sun)
Hammarby sports director Jesper Jansson confirmed Arsenal’s meeting and contact from Bayern for the striker who turns 17 in May (h/t The Sun).
Emil Roback is one of the most promising young players to come through the Stockholm-based club’s youth ranks. He is yet to make his first professional appearance for the club but has played in the U-17 teams of both Hammarby and the Swedish national team.
The 16-year-old recently trained with Arsenal’s kids at their London Colney base, with Mikel Arteta keen on signing him. (h/t The Sun)
Mikel Arteta has done a good job since replacing Unai Emery permanently at the helm of Arsenal. Under the Spaniard, youngsters such as Bukaya Saka, Joe Willock, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah have impressed. Especially Saka, who made his breakthrough this season, first impressed under Emery and then interim boss Freddie Ljungberg, but has really shone since working with Arteta.
The Gunners have been plagued with defensive problems all season long and while there have been improvements of late, there remain concerns over the lack of consistency. Moreover, with David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos not getting any younger, Arteta should prioritise bolstering his backline ahead of the next season.
In any case, however, the 38-year-old should continue blooding youngsters at the Emirates Stadium. That should make the signing of Emil Roback sensible for the north London giants.
Roback has been a member of the club’s academy for several years and this season he got promoted from Hammarby’s Under-17 team to their Under-19 side. The striker is a talented player and interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich speak volumes about the youngster’s potential.
Roback is highly-regarded in and around the club. He won’t walk straight into Arteta’s Arsenal side as the forward is just too young to tackle the rigours of Premier League football. The Swede will have to prove himself in the reserves before he can potentially follow in the footsteps of Saka, Nketiah and Willock.
Arsenal must make a swift move and lure Roback to the Emirates Stadium. By doing so, the Gunners would have an immensely talented player who can sharpen his skills in the Premier League and potentially go on to play for them in the long run.
