As per a report from the Daily Mail, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has made it clear to Arsenal that he would prefer a Roma stay over a return to the club this summer.
Gunners stint
Armenian attacking midfielder/winger Mkhitaryan has been on Arsenal’s books since January of 2018.
The former Borussia Dortmund man made the move to the Emirates from Manchester United in a swap deal (of sorts) that saw Alexis Sanchez move in the opposite direction.
Mkhitaryan’s time in Arsenal’s colours, though, subsequently proved altogether-underwhelming.
The 31-year-old showcased glimpses of his unquestionable talent in patches over the course of his 18 months in the English capital, racking up a respectable 6 goals and 4 assists in the Premier League last season.
As was the case throughout much of his stint in England, though, Mkhitaryan too often failed to perform when Arsenal needed him most, particularly in high-profile meetings with the rest of the top-6.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal is tackled by Will Hughes of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on April 15, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Roma switch
As such, on the back of a further dip in form over the early weeks of the new campaign, it came as little surprise when Unai Emery and co. came to the decision to farm Mkhitaryan out on loan in September.
The Armenian made the move to Serie A giants AS Roma for the remainder of the season:
⚡️ Benvenuto @HenrikhMkh ⚡️
I dettagli 📄 https://t.co/HaTRIzuQRe#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/XCybaoqYcB
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) September 2, 2019
And Mkhitaryan’s form at the Stadio Olimpico has since proven largely-encouraging.
While a pair of injury problems have seen the veteran miss almost 3 months of the campaign combined, when fit, Mkhitaryan has established himself as a key contributor to Paulo Fonseca’s side.
All told, across 13 Serie A appearances, the versatile midfielder has racked up 6 goals and 3 assists.
This includes a pair of goals and assists in his last 2 league outings.
Mkhi eyeing stay
As such, suggestions that Roma intend to make Mkhitaryan’s arrival permanent ahead of next season have come as little surprise.
Some Italian outlets have even gone as far as to claim that negotiations have already been opened between the Giallorossi and Arsenal, with a view to a permanent deal.
And, as per the aforementioned update from the Daily Mail this evening, Mkhitaryan is hopeful of his parent and loan clubs coming to an eventual agreement.
As things stand, Arsenal are thought to be demanding a higher fee than Roma are willing to pay for a player the wrong side of 30 with just a year remaining on his contract.
The Armenian himself, however, is said to have made contact with those in charge at the Emirates, to make his feelings on securing a Serie A stay clear.
‘It is thought that he has told Arsenal that he would like to stay in Italy after a recent phone call.’
It now remains to be seen whether a deal can be found.
Best Netflix, Amazon & YouTube football documentaries & movies to watch during coronavirus isolation
Best football podcasts to listen to during coronavirus quarantine
9 best football documentaries to watch on ESPN+ during COVID-19 quarantine
