“Yes, obviously” – Player wants to be at Arsenal next season, feels he has the level

Nuno Tavares has again shared his desire to be at Arsenal next season and try to find a way through to Mikel Arteta’s team.

The fullback spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, but it’s the Gunners who are on his mind right now. A couple of weeks ago the 24-year-old said that returning to the London club, and succeeding there, is at the top of his priority list.

He’s now made that clear again, this time in an interview with Record, published in the Portuguese newspaper’s Sunday edition.

Record asked Tavares if it’s his objective to go through preparation with the Gunners and fight for a place in Arteta’s side, to which he replied: “Yes, obviously, I have in mind to return to Arsenal and have a good pre-season. Regardless of what happens in the future, I will always do my best, as I have done in all pre-seasons, to have a place at the club.”

The Portuguese newspaper pointed out he’s been sent on loans to Marseille and Nottingham Forest in recent seasons, and asked what would be different this time around: “I always try to do my work in the best way. Then it’s up to the club to decide whether I’m a valid option or not. But I have a strong mentality. I know what I’m capable of. Sometimes things don’t depend on us, but my job is to focus on myself and do what I do best.”

Record again made it clear that he’d have strong competition at Arsenal, calling it one of the biggest clubs in the world, but Tavares was not to be dissuaded: “It’s not something I think about much, because we must always have competition. I played for one of the biggest clubs, Benfica, where there was huge competition. Therefore, it doesn’t have to be a question of fear of competition, because I know my value and I don’t let anything affect me. I trust my work.”

Nuno Tavares will have pre-season to convince Mikel Arteta and keep his Arsenal dream alive.