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29 March 2024

M'Vila to snub Man Utd for Arsenal

French international Yann M'Vila is poised to join Arsenal. (FILE)

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By Staff

Arsenal are lining up a record £18 million bid for French international Yann M'Vila, according to a report.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is moving swiftly to seal a deal in a bid to fend off interest from Manchester United, the Daily Mirror reported.

Wenger has been tracking the Rennes midfielder for more than a year.

But Arsenal have suddenly swung into action after learning that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has also come looking for the 21-year-old star.

United have sent scouts to watch M'Vila for the past few weeks and Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have also shown an interest, it added.

But United's interest has been the spur to persuade Arsenal to move in quickly to tie up a deal even before the end of the season.

Arsenal have already agreed a £10m transfer for Cologne striker Lukas Podolski and the German international is a done deal for next season.

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M'Vila is the next in and the Frenchman has already indicated that his desire to play for Arsenal will be the biggest factor in his decision.

M'Vila said earlier this month: "If it is Wenger who asks you then of course that changes things."

However, the arrival of M'Vila could throw up a question mark about the future of Alex Song in a midfield already packed with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Robin van Persie's 35th goal of the season cancelled out Peter Crouch's opener as Arsenal picked up a 1-1 draw at Stoke.

While Arsenal knew a victory would have tightened their grip on third place in the Premier League and they controlled the game throughout, a draw does their hopes of Champions League football next season little harm.

At a venue they have rarely enjoyed, they fell behind early on through Crouch's header.

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But Van Persie, who faces speculation about his future with only one year remaining on his contract, touched in for his second goal in eight games.

Although Arsenal have endured a miserable record at the Britannia Stadium in recent years, they began with real purpose and Yossi Benayoun should have opened the scoring when he was sent through by Van Persie after robbing Ryan Shotton.

But the midfielder, who is on loan from Chelsea, could only manage a scuffed finish from a good position.

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Van Persie went closer when he was picked out by a neat cross from Tomas Rosicky but Asmir Begovic turned the Dutchman's header around the post.

The hosts had barely threatened but they took the lead with only eight minutes gone.

The ball was played out to Matthew Etherington on the left flank and the winger sent over a cross that was guided into the corner by Crouch.

But the visitors continued to dominate and Aaron Ramsey, who had his leg broken in a challenge with Ryan Shawcross 26 months ago, just missed with a shot from the edge of the area.

Arsene Wenger's side pulled level with under a quarter of an hour gone when Benayoun once again stole the ball from Shotton and Tomas Rosicky crossed to the far post for Van Persie to prod in.

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French defender Laurent Koscielny headed over from a Van Persie free-kick and Gervinho also lifted an effort well over the bar after racing clear of the Stoke defence.

Just before the break, former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant's free-kick picked out Shawcross but the Stoke captain's header was deflected wide of goal before Robert Huth's long-range effort also flew off-target.

Arsenal continued to press after the interval and worked space on the right through Alex Song but Van Persie's diving header flew straight at Begovic from Bacary Sagna's cross.

Shawcross had to be alert to block Benayoun as the midfielder was about to shoot after a fine run into the area.

The Stoke defender was also well-placed to pull off another important block after Kieran Gibbs had burst into the area and hit a shot.

Dean Whitehead had a powerful shot deflected over as the hosts enjoyed a rare spell of second-half pressure.

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Van Persie thumped a free-kick against the wall and when the rebound fell for Thomas Vermaelen, the Belgian defender saw his follow-up blocked by Shawcross, with the visitors appealing for a handball.

Ramsey missed with another drive from just outside the area as Arsenal failed to turn their control into a lead.

Arsenal also called for a penalty when Benayoun went down in the area under a challenge from Glenn Whelan.

Wojciech Szezesny had very little to do in the second period but was still able to produce a fine save, clawing Cameron Jerome's powerful effort away from the top corner, to keep the scores level.

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At the other end, Sagna broke forward and had a thumping drive that flew through a crowd of bodies held by Begovic before Vermaelen thumped an effort wide from a free-kick just outside the area.

There was still a late scare for the visitors, when Rory Delap's long throw reached Crouch in the area but Sagna hacked the ball to safety.