Arsenal rarely ever bring back players they let go, but Mikel Arteta could be about to re-sign a midfielder Arsene Wenger sold years ago.

The Gunners are expected to be very active in this summer’s transfer window.

Arteta’s side could well be the Premier League and European champions at that point, but irrespective of what happens, reinforcements are necessary.

A striker will be the priority, but we won’t be surprised if Arteta spends big on a new midfielder as well when the window opens this summer.

Mikel Arteta wants to re-sign former Arsenal midfielder

Arsene Wenger is Arsenal’s greatest-ever manager.

The legendary Frenchman is the biggest reason why the Gunners are such a big club today, and he made the careers of many, many, players over the years.

However, just like every other manager, Wenger couldn’t always keep all of his players happy, and he had to sell a few of them when he couldn’t guarantee regular game time.

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One such player was Ismael Bennacer, who spent two years on Arsenal‘s books between 2015 and 2017.

The Algeria international even made a senior appearance for the Gunners, and many felt he had what it takes to make it at the top level.

However, after a successful loan spell at Empoli, Arsenal sold Bennacer for around £1 million (Football London), and he has since gone on to achieve great things in Italy, including winning the Serie A title with AC Milan.

Now, CalcioMercato.it claim Bennacer has a lot of admirers ahead of the summer window, and Arsenal are one of them. However, the Gunners face competition from clubs in Saudi Arabia.

The North London club’s interest in Bennacer is nothing new. Reports revealed last year that Arsenal tried to re-sign him before they brought Jorginho in.

Bennacer, now 26, has been tied down to a contract at AC Milan until 2027.

You don’t get to play for Arsenal unless you are a good player.

Ismael Bennacer may not have fulfilled his dreams at the Emirates, but he showed everyone at the club just how talented a footballer he really is.

Even Arsene Wenger was a big fan of Bennacer when he was at the club. He branded him as a ‘very efficient’ midfielder and a ‘fighter’ who could do ‘all kinds of jobs’ on the pitch.

The Frenchman told Arsenal.com in 2017: “He’s a player who is not spectacular, but a very efficient player. He’s the kind of player who, once you put him in the team, you don’t take him out anymore.

“He can defend very well, he’s a fighter, a left-footed player and very efficient going forward. He’s a real box-to-box player. He can do all kinds of jobs. He is still young, still lacks a little bit of experience, but is a very promising player.”