With Bacary Sagna continuing to stall on contract talks, Arsenal have started to be linked with a number of full-backs across the continent. After reports of a move for AC Milan’s Mattia De Sciglio emerged, it seems as though another Rossoneri star might be on the radar of Arsene Wenger, this time it is the more established Ignazio Abate.

Abate, who has had a very successful 14 years at Milan, is said to be seeking an exit from the San Siro and is widely tipped to be sold in the upcoming January transfer window, with the Italian side already scouting possible replacements for the defender. Newcastle’s Davide Santon and Monaco’s Fabinho have both been heavily linked with a move to Milan.

Interestingly, it seems as though Mathieu Flamini, who had a five-year spell at Milan before returning to Arsenal, has alerted the Arsenal boss of the availability of the Italian international and has advised him to make his move in January and beat PSG to the punch. Flamini, who is said to be good friends with Abate, might well have mentioned the prospect of moving to Arsenal to him as well.

In my opinion, he would be perfect for Arsenal. Despite having a wealth of experience and a veteran-like status, the player is still 27 years old and is clearly in the peak of his career. He’s physically very strong and is known to be a very reliable figure in defence. However, it is his blistering pace that makes him stand out and he can certainly dribble past an opponent with ease. Just like Bacary Sagna, he is also very capable of playing in central defence and can put in a shift in relatively foreign areas of the pitch as well.

While competition from the French champions will be hard to fend off, I strongly believe Arsenal can get him should we go in. Ignazio Abate is certainly not known to be a player who will give in to the lure of money and is most likely looking to take a bigger step in his career and a move to the Premier League will surely interest him. I might be getting a little ahead of myself here but Arsenal’s right-flank will be lethal with the pace of Theo Walcott and Ignazio Abate.

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