Arsenal assistant confirms Vinicius Junior was discussed during the summer

Arsenal assistant coach Miguel Molina has revealed that Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff discussed potentially signing Vinicius Junior over the summer.

The Real Madrid superstar was a serious target for the reigning Premier League champions.

Arsenal threw their hat in the ring for Vinicius when his contract negotiation with Madrid wasn’t going according to plan.

They saw an opportunity to land one of football’s biggest stars and were seriously considering a mega-money summer swoop for the Brazilian.

However, he signed a new long-term contract with Madrid.

When asked whether Arsenal’s coaching staff talked about Vinicius, Molina said (via Marca), “Yes, of course. Obviously, I can’t ignore reality, but it was a name that was on the table, yes.”

Since joining Madrid, Vinicius has established himself as one of the world’s best players.

The 26-year-old notched 22 goals and 14 assists in 53 appearances for Los Blancos last season, although it wasn’t enough to steer them to a major title.

He has bagged one goal and three assists in seven league games under manager Jose Mourinho this season.

Molina also spoke about his own journey at Arsenal and his experience working alongside Arteta. 

The 33-year-old is now in his seventh season with the Gunners after previously working at Spanish clubs Atlético Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.

The Spaniard praised his countryman’s approach and his commitment to his work.

“He’s the first to arrive and the last to leave,” he added. “He’s very intense, a super demanding guy.

“His best quality is that he’s able to bring out the best in the people around him, both the players and the staff, because ultimately he’s the greatest example of hard work and quality in that work.”

He also credited Arteta for creating a strong culture within the Arsenal squad.