Arsenal should not be in the market for Southampton‘s Tyler Dibling this summer ahead of Sunday’s final-day Premier League encounter at St Mary’s, expert Charles Watts believes.
Southampton’s demotion from the Premier League is likely to trigger a few high-profile exits from St Mary’s this summer, and 19-year-old Dibling – the jewel in the Saints’ crown – could be at the centre of a multi-club transfer tussle.
The teenager’s emergence has been a rare positive in a season full of negatives for Southampton, as he has contributed four goals and three assists from 38 games, but the Saints have apparently slapped an astonishing £100m price tag on his head.
There has been no real talk of Arsenal showing interest in Dibling, even though the Gunners will be pursuing a new winger this summer, and Watts has baulked at Southampton’s apparent £100m demands for the teenager.
Asked by Sports Mole if Dibling could fit into Arsenal’s system, Watts replied: “Potentially. He’s very exciting. He’s a proper old-school type winger. It’s silly money when you say the sort of money that it potentially would take for a guy who’s not even been starting that regularly for Southampton. “£100m, just absolute madness. Football’s gone crazy.
“But he’s really talented. He’s got the talent and the potential to be a star. I think it’s probably a little bit too early for a move like Arsenal. I could see him going to one of the smaller clubs in the league, maybe someone like Spurs,” he joked at the end.
Dibling is expected to start against the Gunners in Sunday’s final-day dead rubber, in which Arsenal only need a point to be absolutely sure of second place in the Premier League table, while nothing Southampton can do will propel them higher than 20th.
Why Arsenal should avoid Man City fate in Southampton showdown
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Even a shock loss to Simon Rusk‘s side should not impact Arsenal’s silver-medal standing thanks to their superior goal difference over Manchester City, who were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at St Mary’s earlier this month.
That result ensured that Southampton would surpass Derby County’s all-time low Premier League points record, and Watts can therefore envisage a more open, entertaining match when Arsenal come to visit.
“The Man City game, they very much did not want to be known as the worst team in Premier League history,” he added. “They held on, they got the point, they don’t have to worry about any of that now.
“Arsenal, it’s just a complete free hit, whatever happens. I think we’ll see some changes as well. I’m hoping it’s just going to be a one-off friendly type open game to end the season in the sunshine at St. Mary’s.
“I’m not expecting it to be a turgid one. I think we might see some goals, I think we’ll see Southampton just go for it and try and sign off in exciting fashion in front of their supporters. We’ll see a little bit of space and hopefully Arsenal will be able to exploit that. I’m expecting quite an open game from this one.”
With nothing major at stake and regular starters weary after a taxing season, Mikel Arteta will be expected to ring the changes for the clash with the Saints, especially in defence following recent injury blows.
Both William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are absent on account of hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, joining Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the Gunners infirmary.
Kieran Tierney backed to start last Arsenal game
Following last weekend’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United, Arteta also hinted that Kieran Tierney and Jorginho had played their final matches in front of the Emirates crowd; the former is already confirmed to be re-joining Celtic, while the latter is on his way to Flamengo.
Watts is hopeful that Tierney will start on Sunday, as well as the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and potentially even Kai Havertz, who made his comeback from a hamstring operation in the second half of the victory over the Magpies.
“I’d like to see Ethan because he’s just not played anywhere near enough minutes recently, I don’t know why” Watts concluded. “I think we’ll see Calafiori and Kiwior play at centre back. I thought him and Kiwior were really, really good in that second half [against Newcastle] after Saliba went off.
“I can’t imagine we’re going to see Saliba this weekend. It’d be nice to see Tierney get a start in his final game for Arsenal. Lewis-Skelly doesn’t need to start this game. Played loads of football, been brilliant, but it’d be great to see Kieran get a final start.
“Jorginho will probably come in. I don’t think he’ll start, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him get some minutes before he calls time on his Arsenal career. It’d be interesting to see if Kai Havertz gets a start.
“Got 25 minutes or so at the weekend, maybe they’ll give him 60 minutes to go into the summer. I can’t imagine it’s going to be an easy one to name when you’re doing your predicted 11.”
Arsenal have not lost their final game of the Premier League season for 20 years, last going down in the closing weekend to Birmingham City back in the 2004-05 campaign, since when they have won 17 of their 19 gameweek 38 fixtures.
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