After losing their last three games in the league, AS Roma were in desperate need of a win when they welcomed Lecce on Sunday, who were, down their end, on a three game winning streak in Serie A.
However, the confidence at the Apulian club didn’t stop the fact one side is far stronger than the other, and it was Henrikh Mkhitaryan who drove his side forward to ensure the three points were picked up.
The Arsenal loanee scored a tidy left footed finish and assisted Cengiz Ünder for the opener to take his league tally to five goals and two assists in 12 appearances, and both Il Tempo and Corriere dello Sport gave him their man of the match award for his performance.
Every time the forward has been fit, he has stepped up and helped the team, which reinforces the belief the Armenian should be bought from the Emirates club permanently.
As has been explained multiple times before, the current deal between Arsenal and Roma doesn’t have an option to buy, so negotiations would have to start from scratch, but the player’s age and his contract situation (he’ll have one year left on his Gunners deal in the summer) would make him relatively cheap.
But, once again, Corriere dello Sport make the point that Champions League qualification is key for this deal to happen, and state it would be ‘practically impossible’ to buy him without finishing in the top four.
Thankfully for all parties involved, that is still achievable, as Roma sit three points behind fourth placed Atalanta, who do, however, have a game in hand.
Down Mkhitaryan’s end, the player made it clear after the game it was ‘early’ to think about his future, and all he wanted to do was focus on the next game and keep on training even if he does like ‘everything about the club and the city’.
It seems the Arsenal is keeping his cards close to his chest for the time being.
