Arsenal can finally get Chido Obi revenge on Man Utd with shock transfer

There's every chance that in a few years' time Arsenal look back on Chido Obi as the one that got away. Having been ushered into the Arsenal academy from Denmark back in 2022, Obi left for Manchester United last year, where he has gone on to feature in Ruben Amorim's senior squad.

While the two clubs have gone in opposite directions over the last decade or so, United and Arsenal remains a rivalry that harbours plenty of animosity. And given United's recent struggles on the pitch, losing a player of Obi's quality to the Red Devils still no doubt stings.

But there does exist a way in which Arsenal can finally enact revenge on the record Premier League champions by performing the football equivalent of a Uno reverse card. That's because Kobbie Mainoo, once billed as the next big thing out of United's academy, is believed to be on the market.

Amorim hasn't taken to Mainoo ever since arriving at Old Trafford from Portuguese outfit Sporting, with suggestions the midfielder could look to force a move out of the club before Monday's deadline. Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have all been tentatively linked to the Englishman... but why not Arsenal?

First things first, he'd bring quality to Mikel Arteta's squad and would give the Spanish coach an alternative to playing Martin Odegaard every week. And if things go really well, he could even nudge one of Arsenal's starting midfielders, be that Odegaard or otherwise, out of the starting XI.

Mainoo has already shown in glimpses under previous United boss Erik ten Hag and during England's run to the Euro 2024 final that he's a player with plenty of ability, but more importantly, potential. That should be the sell as far as Arsenal are concerned, especially in a World Cup season where Mainoo will be keen to find a way into Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad.

And if Mainoo needed any more encouragement to jump ship, Amorim's recent comments ought to have give him that. Speaking this week, the Portuguese tactician said: "They just need to fight for the places, and then everything can change. Sometimes one is playing, in other moments, other guys are going to play, and we have the cups, so we're going to have a lot of games for everybody."

Old Trafford to Arsenal isn't a path that's been trodden by many, but given Mainoo doesn't appear to be in the plans at United, perhaps he could find refuge in north London instead.