Former Espanyol centre-back Michael Ciani, now a free agent after cancelling his contract with the La Liga club, has revealed he is waiting for offers from Premier League sides and would jump at the opportunity specifically to join Arsenal.
"I like the football in England, the mentality. I like everything," Ciani explained to Goal.com as he revealed his reason for quitting Spain centred on being a back-up player at best.
"I have the physique to play there," he further said of England, having been linked with West Ham within the last couple of years.
"I loved Arsenal growing up and always wanted to play in England so I think it is my time to play there. Thierry Henry was my favourite player in the Premier League. I was watching him in every game and he was so good at Arsenal.
"I have just left Espanyol and now I am looking for a good challenge, a new one. I would like to play in England so I am waiting for a proposition."
Ciani, now 32 years of age and formerly Lorient, Bordeaux and Lazio, joined Sporting CP in 2015. He never played a game for the Lisbon club, though, and signed with Espanyol only a few weeks later. The player has since only featured a handful of times for the Barcelona-based side.
For now, Ciani has returned to former club Lorient, the place where he really made his name in top flight football, to train and keep himself in good shape. Should it come to it, he's also not ruling out a deal with his old team or another in France.
"I am training with Lorient, I know the coach and I want to keep fit. I need to play, I need to be on the pitch every game to show what I can do," he said.
"The objective is to come to England but if I have a tempting offer from France, then why not?"
Arsenal signed Rob Holding (£2m) and Shkodran Mustafi (£35m) over summer to bolster their defensive ranks. But with Calum Chambers out on loan and Per Mertesacker injured until the new year, Ciani's plea and availability may at least be worth considering for Arsene Wenger.
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