Arsenal ‘monitoring Ajax star, 18, as they consider transfer replacement for out-of-form Oleksandr Zinchenko’

ARSENAL are reportedly keen on Ajax wonderkid Jorrel Hato as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his backline.

The North Londoners crashed out of Europe this week – days after a defeat to Aston Villa dented their Premier League title charge.

And CaughtOffside transfer guru Charles Watts claims Oleksandr Zinchenko could be replaced by Hato next season after being made a scapegoat.

Capable of operating at left-back or centre-back, the teenager is exactly the kind of versatile player the Gunners have set their sights on in recent years.

Ben White has locked down the right-back role in Arteta’s system after going from strength to strength under the Spaniard.

But Zinchenko’s form has not been as consistent, with Takehiro Tomiyasu preferred at left-back in the 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

Jurrien Timber can operate on both flanks and is nearing a return from the injury he suffered on his Premier League debut after arriving from Ajax over the summer.

Fellow Dutchman Hato, 18, has racked up 43 first-team appearances this season despite his tender years.

A highly-regarded prospect, he is technically adept and a part of the Netherlands’ youth set-up.

While Arsenal have one eye on the summer window, they still have plenty to play for this season as they sit just two points behind leaders Manchester City with six top-flight games remaining.

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Asked if Arsenal would look back at that loss to Villa if they fail to land the title, Gus Poyet told SunSport yesterday: “I would say probably, but I think we shouldn’t be that dramatic.

“I think that the most important for us is how they’re gonna react.

“Because if somebody was thinking they will be in a winning run without even drawing again until the end of the season, they are dreaming.

“They don’t know the Premier League. I mean the Premier League is what we saw at the weekend.

“When you think you’re good, somebody’s [going to] come in and knock you down.

“So I think the important thing is the next games, I think it’s really important that they show that that game against Aston Villa didn’t affect the level of performances that they were having.

“And for that we need to wait and see.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk