Gunners hope that Willian’s arrival at the Bridge will persuade Spaniard to join north Londoners this summer.
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Arsenal are said to be set to make a move for unsettled Chelsea wide man Juan Mata following the Blues’ recent capture of Anzhi Makhachkala playmaker Willian, according to reports in the Sunday Mirror.
The occasional Brazil international is on the verge of completing his shock £30 million move to Stamford Bridge despite having appearing to be all set to join their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last week.
And with the 25-year-old having been assured a regular starting berth in attack in west London this season during his negotiations to join the Blues, with Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho wanting the winger to operate as part of an attacking front three alongside both Oscar and Eden Hazard, that has now placed huge question marks over the future of the Spain international at the club.
All of which has persuaded Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to make his own move now for the 25-year-old former Valencia player, with the Frenchman having nearly signed Mata two years ago, before the player had a late change of heart and moved to the Bridge instead in a deal worth a whopping £23.5m.
However, with Mourinho having been adamant in recent days that the Spaniard would not be leaving the club this summer, it still very much remains to be seen if Arsenal will be able to sign Mata this season.