Grimandi names Kvaratskhelia as Arteta's dream winger amid Arsenal's left-flank search

Former Arsenal defender Gilles Grimandi has named PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the player Mikel Arteta would most love to add to his squad, describing the Georgian winger as “special” and capable of playing for any club in Europe — though he acknowledged the move would be near-impossible to pull off.

Arteta’s need for a world-class left winger has been a recurring theme at the Emirates. Arsenal parted ways with both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in the summer, and while £34m signing Christos Tzolis was always intended as a back-up option, the club fell short in their pursuit of several primary targets, including Vinicius Junior and Kenan Yildiz. Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have since been deployed on that flank as alternatives.

Grimandi, speaking to Goal, was effusive about Kvaratskhelia’s qualities. “This guy is special. He’s special because he’s always good in the big games and last season, every time when the competition was getting close to the end, he was getting better and better,” the Frenchman said. “He has fantastic commitment; he’s running, he’s defending, and when he gets the ball in the final third, he’s very efficient.”

Grimandi also noted that Kvaratskhelia has been selective with his appearances so far this season, suggesting the 23-year-old is managing his workload with an eye on the latter stages of the campaign. “He just knows that he wants to be prepared for the spring time and that’s his target. He knows that big games will come. He can play for any team in Europe, of course he can play for Arsenal. For me, he’s one of the best players in his position.”

Despite the praise, Grimandi was candid about the financial and contractual obstacles involved. PSG have little incentive to sell, and the salary demands at the Parc des Princes make any potential deal deeply complicated.

Arsenal currently sit three points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after a narrow 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, where Madueke’s deflected strike proved the difference. Arteta’s side face Bayern Munich in the Champions League league phase before returning to domestic action against Everton.