Aliadiere urges Arsenal to sign Kroupi and restore their French connection

Jérémie Aliadière has urged Arsenal to target Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi and PSG winger Bradley Barcola this summer, insisting the club should revive the tradition of recruiting elite French talent that flourished under Arsène Wenger.

The former Arsenal forward, who spent eight years at Highbury and the Emirates, told FourFourTwo that the current generation of French players represents exactly the profile Mikel Arteta should be chasing. “Absolutely, Arsenal should be looking at these types of players,” Aliadière said. “Barcola has been excellent for PSG and France and would be perfect on the left-hand side of the attack for Arsenal. He is a fantastic player and would take Arsenal to the next level.”

Kroupi, 20, became a fan favourite among Arsenal supporters after his goal for Bournemouth against Manchester City helped seal the Gunners’ Premier League title last season. Aliadière acknowledged the attacker’s potential but noted a current injury could complicate any move. “Kroupi has been mentioned as well: I know he has an injury, which may mean he stays at Bournemouth, but he has shown last season he is a good young player who has a lot of potential, and teams will be interested in him for sure.”

Arsenal’s French contingent has dwindled sharply since the Wenger years, when the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires, and Sylvain Wiltord made the club one of the most popular in France. Last season, William Saliba was the only French player in Arteta’s squad — a stark contrast to the club’s continental heyday.

That changed this summer when Arsenal signed goalkeeper Ilian Meslier on a free transfer, their first French recruit since 2019. Aliadière’s comments suggest that one arrival is only the beginning of what the club should be doing in the market.

Arsenal open their Premier League title defence at home to Coventry City.