This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
June 28, 2020, marked a significant day for Arsenal as they resumed play behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It was on this day that Dani Ceballos scored the late FA Cup winner against Sheffield United, cementing his status as a crucial player in Mikel Arteta's new-look side.
After an initially mixed start in North London, Ceballos has emerged as a key player in the team, shining in their recent revival. Arteta had urged the player to 'take a step forwards' in January, effectively calling on him to prove his worth. And Ceballos has done just that since the Premier League's restart.
Now Arteta appears convinced of his potential for the long-term. 'Yeah, we are talking to the club,' Arteta said when asked if he was aiming to retain Ceballos's services. 'Obviously we don't own the player, he's not in our hands so the clubs will need to have a communication and see what we can do.'
Arteta expressed his happiness with Ceballos's evolution, praising his passion for the game and his commitment to training sessions and matches. 'I think he's evolving in the right way and he's becoming a really important player for us,' Arteta said.
However, Ceballos's deal in Madrid runs until 2023, and Los Blancos are open to cashing in on the former Real Betis man. He is currently due to return to the Spanish capital in August. Arsenal's financial situation means that they need to be creative in the market this summer, potentially with player exchanges.
Arteta admitted that the club has to be open to different situations, including player swaps. 'We have to be open to different situations. And I think the market will give us the opportunity to do certain deals like this [swaps] but at the moment I cannot comment on any of that,' Arteta said.
