How Mikel Arteta has already made ‘huge improvements’ to career of Arsenal target Leroy Sane

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane, and he is a player Mikel Arteta knows very well.

Sane joined Manchester City in the summer of 2016, arriving at the same time that Arteta joined Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at the Etihad Stadium.

The Germany International became one of the deadliest wingers in Europe under Guardiola and Arteta, with his sheer pace and creativity proving almost unstoppable at times.

Sane has now been linked with a shock move to Arsenal, with Arteta wanting to add speed to his attacking options, but his performances at Bayern Munich have not been as strong as they were at Man City.

However, if anyone can get the best out of Sane, it is Arteta, and the winger has previously credited the Arsenal boss for helping him improve.

Leroy Sane praised Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for helping him improve

Speaking in April ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, Sane explained how Arteta helped him develop his game as a winger.

“It was great. I was pleased to work with him because he actually really helped me at City. We had a lot of individual talks about how I can improve, strengths, my weaknesses, we worked a lot,” he stated.

“I made huge improvements under him, he gave that to me. I still keep that in my mind and put that in my game – positioning, how to behave in certain positions. I’m thankful.”

Mikel Arteta helped Leroy Sane make crucial change to explode at Man City

When Sane enjoyed his breakthrough as a wonderkid at FC Schalke, he played as a right-winger cutting inside onto his left foot.

This changed quickly in his first season of working with Arteta. The Spaniard worked with Sane to move to the left-wing, and helped coach him into the role where he would hug the touchline and perform as an outlet.

This led to Sane exploding at Man City on the left, with his speed and output improving dramatically in his second season in the Premier League. In a deadly front line alongside Raheem Sterling and one of Gabriel Jesus or Sergio Aguero, he scored 14 and assisted 19 times in 44 games across all competitions on the left wing.

Sane often plays on the right at Bayern, but if he does move to Arsenal, Arteta may see the value in moving him back to the left to try and unlock his best form.