Mikel Arteta's preferred winger has been named

Arsenal are gearing up for a blockbuster Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening. The English champions, who reached the final of the European club competition last season, take on the German champions, whom Vincent Kompany led to the semi-finals, in the league phase.

This tough fixture in Bavaria follows a narrow yet crucial 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Noni Madueke’s deflected strike was the difference between the two sides on Sunday, as Mikel Arteta's men required a stroke of luck to make their possession count and secure all three points.

That took them to within three points of rivals Manchester City, who sit at the summit of the Premier League table. Following their trip to the Allianz Arena, Arsenal return to league action with a home fixture against Everton.

Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest stories surrounding the north Londoners.

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Arteta's 'dream winger' named

Former Arsenal defender Gilles Grimandi claims Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is Arteta’s dream signing. The Spaniard's search for a world-class left winger is well known, as he has been keen to upgrade his options for several years.

The Gunners parted ways with both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in the summer. The expectation was that they would bring in a ceiling-raising forward along with £34m signing Christos Tzolis, who was always meant to be a back-up option.

As things turned out, Arsenal failed in their pursuit of several primary targets, including Vinicius Junior and Kenan Yildiz. That has left them short of the standout forward they wanted this season, with both Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke being used instead on that flank.

Now, Grimandi has suggested that PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a player Arteta would love to sign, though he admits it is unlikely he will be lured away from the European champions.

The Frenchman told Goal: “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.

“He has fantastic commitment; he’s running, he’s defending, and when he gets the ball in the final third, he’s very efficient. For me, he’s a special guy.

“He looks like he’s choosing his games because so far this season he hasn’t played too many, but 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.”

Grimandi added: “I don’t think they will do it. Now it’s complicated when the guy plays in Paris because they have a huge salary and they do not need any money so it’s quite complicated to pick up one of the best players and bring him to another team except if there is a problem.”

Bukayo Saka slammed

Carlton Cole has slammed Gunners winger Bukayo Saka by calling him a passenger in Arteta’s side. Saka, 25, enjoyed a fast start to the season by scoring three goals early on.

But the winger has since been largely ineffective in games, while also squandering several chances in front of goal. That has led to some scrutiny regarding his form from some of the Arsenal fanbase, as well as pundit Cole.

After Saka failed to get on the scoresheet against Forest, former Chelsea striker Cole claimed the England international is getting too much leniency from his manager and should have his place in the starting line-up questioned in the coming weeks.

Cole said on The Dressing Room Podcast: “We have to look at Saka, I’m not sure man, he’s not doing it. I think he’s a little bit of a passenger at the minute and I hope that he does come good but he’s not quite there right now.

“I want him to do well and prove the haters wrong but his position is being questioned right now. You have Max Dowman and as they say, if you’re good enough you are old enough.

“He’s probably looking at people on the bench, thinking ‘How am I not getting on and playing’ because he can glide past players. That No10 role is even his position as well, so he comes on the right but I think he’s better in the middle.

“But Saka gets grace all the time and I think it’s unfair on the other players because every other player gets called off by the gaffer.”