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  "path": "/2026/04/18/owen-hargreaves-urges-arsenal-sign-former-real-madrid-star-ahead-chelsea-2-28002358/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-18T05:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Arsenal transfer news",
    "Cesc Fabregas",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Owen Hargreaves",
    "Premier League",
    "Real Madrid",
    "Real Madrid transfer news",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Viktor Gyokeres",
    "criticised by a number of pundits",
    "including Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler",
    "Arsenal making the trip to the Etihad",
    "beaten 2-0 by Man City in the Carabao Cup final",
    "take on Atletico Madrid",
    "Sign up to our daily football newsletter",
    "Steven Gerrard has urged Arsenal",
    "another striker signed to replace Gyokeres",
    "also been linked with fellow Premier League giants Chelsea",
    "TNT Sports",
    "Premier League legend Fabregas",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Owen Hargreaves has sent a transfer message to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)\n\nOwen Hargreaves has urged Arsenal to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking options in the summer and believes a former Real Madrid forward would be an ideal target for the Gunners.\n\nArteta’s side are six points clear at the top of the Premier League despite only Viktor Gyokeres scoring more than six goals in the competition.\n\nArsenal’s reliance on set-pieces has been criticised by a number of pundits and even by some within the Premier League, including Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler.\n\nThe Gunners won’t care one bit if the tactics lead to a first Premier League title since 2004, however, with Arsenal making the trip to the Etihad to take on title rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.\n\nArsenal were hoping to win their first trophy since 2020 at Wembley last month but were beaten 2-0 by Man City in the Carabao Cup final.\n\nDespite that setback Arteta’s side are still in with a chance of winning two trophies this season with the north Londoners having also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League where they will take on Atletico Madrid.\n\nGiven the level of planning at the club, one eye will already be on the summer transfer window and the chance to strengthen a squad that has been hailed as the strongest in Europe.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\nArsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)\n\nArsenal’s back-five looks incredibly settled, conceding just 24 goals in 32 Premier League games, but several attacking positions could be looked at by Arteta.\n\nLiverpool legend Steven Gerrard has urged Arsenal to sign a new left-winger to replace Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, while several pundits want to see another striker signed to replace Gyokeres.\n\nHargreaves also believes it is in the attacking areas that Arsenal should prioritise in the summer transfer window, naming Nico Paz as an ideal target.\n\nArgentina international Paz is currently thriving under ex-Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas at Italian side Como, having signed from Real Madrid in 2024.\n\nSpanish giants Madrid are believed to have the option to re-sign Paz but Hargreaves has urged Arenal to launch a move for the 21-year-old, who looks set to feature at this summer’s World Cup and has also been linked with fellow Premier League giants Chelsea.\n\nAsked about possible Arsenal summer signings, Hargreaves said on TNT Sports: ‘There’s a young lad at Como, Nico Paz.\n\nComo star and ex-Real Madrid forward Nico Paz (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘There’s an option for him to go back to Real Madrid but if I’m Arsenal…\n\n‘This kid – you’ll see him at the World Cup. Mikel Arteta will already know that this boy will be a star and if you don’t ask you don’t get.\n\n‘A player like that could suit Arsenal.’\n\nPremier League legend Fabregas has repeatedly heaped praise on Paz since he joined Como from Real Madrid.\n\n‘Nico does incredible things,’ Fabregas said back in November. ‘He is a footballer capable of pulling a trick out of his hat at any moment.’\n\nSpeaking last month, meanwhile, Fabregas said: ‘He sees the goal, he is not afraid.\n\n‘Nico enjoys playing, he can play different roles and he is very complete player. I see a very, very big potential in him.’\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Owen Hargreaves urges Arsenal to sign former Real Madrid star ahead of Chelsea"
}