Arsenal must use Sir Alex Ferguson transfer trick against PSG tonight - opinion

Arsenal could take inspiration from Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson tonight as Paris Saint-Germain visit the Emirates Stadium in Champions League semi-final action.

It’s a mammoth match for Mikel Arteta as he bids to win a historic Champions League trophy for the Gunners. That success would wipe out any sense of underachievement having fallen well short of the Premier League title race.

There is just the small matter of PSG and then either Inter Milan or Barcelona in the final. All eyes will be focused on the pitch tonight but, as ever with modern football, there are other stories to keep an eye on around the match.

Arsenal ‘regret’ missing out on Desire Doue

Late last week, TEAMtalk claimed that Arsenal ‘regret’ missing out on signing winger Désiré Doué last summer as the youngster moved from Rennes to PSG following his Olympics silver medal with the France under-21 side. Since then, the highly rated starlet has gone on to bag 13 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

The outlet added that the Gunners could reignite their interest in the player this summer with PSG supposedly willing to listen to offers above £85 million for the star, who signed for £42 million last year. Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are also cited as interested parties with the £85 million potentially rising depending on progress in the Champions League.

Writing about the player’s potential for the BBC, chief football writer Phil McNutly said: “When Désiré Doué walked off slowly and disconsolately after only 64 minutes at Arsenal in October, the teenager touted as French football's next golden boy looked alone and out of his depth.

“Fast forward six months - with a potential Champions League semi-final reunion with the Gunners a growing possibility - and Paris St-Germain's brilliant young forward has captured the imagination of Europe. For someone whose name translates to 'desire gifted' in English, the 19-year-old has lived up to that billing since putting the false start behind him in spectacular fashion.”

Mikel Arteta must use Sir Alex Ferguson transfer trick

With any deal for Doué already expensive and the player not short of suitors, Arsenal could look to take inspiration from Sir Alex as PSG come to town tonight. Doue has featured in all but one Champions League match for the French outfit this season and is almost guaranteed minutes in north London.

When Manchester United signed an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon for £12 million in 2003, the Red Devils used their match against the Portuguese side as an audition for the winger. Impressed, Sir Alex famously set the wheels into action to make a transfer happen straight after the final whistle.

Ronaldo told Sky Sports in 2016: “The first game that I played against Manchester United was an unbelievable game. It was the perfect night, the perfect night. After the game, some of my teammates said, ‘Listen, you’re going to go to Manchester, trust me!’

“Sir Alex Ferguson was there, and [they said] he wants to speak with you. I go to the dressing room, he introduced me to the players. For me, I was a little bit shy. And Sir Alex Ferguson said to me, 'Listen, I want you now'.”

Manchester United then confirmed the transfer five days after playing Sporting Lisbon. Any move for Doue would obviously not be so simple, but if Arteta truly wants to bring the player to Arsenal, he would be a fool not to make his interest clear to the player tonight - à la Fergie.

In other news, 'The recipe for beating them' - Nice boss tells Arsenal how he ended PSG's unbeaten run.