Patrice Evra Backs Manu Koné for Arsenal Move

Patrice Evra spent years tormenting Arsenal in Manchester United colours. Now he wants one of France’s brightest midfielders to help keep the Gunners on top.

The former United left-back has urged compatriot Manu Koné to consider a switch to north London, insisting the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder is tailor‑made for the Premier League and for Mikel Arteta’s intense, possession-heavy game.

Speaking to Stake, Evra broke down exactly why he believes Koné would thrive in England.

“I like Manu Kone's profile for the Premier League. He has energy, he carries the ball, he likes duels and he works for the team,” he said. Those are not throwaway compliments from a man who lived the pace and brutality of English football at its peak.

For Evra, the physical and mental jump to the Premier League is the real test.

“All of those things matter in England. The Premier League is faster. You don't get time to breathe. So the important thing is adaptation. Don't judge him after five games,” he warned, stressing patience as the key to unlocking Koné’s potential.

Evra believes the right coach could turn that raw, all‑action profile into a formidable weapon in Arsenal’s midfield.

“If he goes to Arsenal with a manager who knows how to use him, I think he can do well. He definitely has the tools. Then it is about consistency.”

The message is clear: Koné has the attributes, Arsenal have the stage, and Arteta has the structure. Put them together, and Evra sees a serious player emerging.

Arsenal, though, are currently looking elsewhere.

While Evra talks up Koné as an ideal fit, the club’s recruitment focus is fixed firmly on Bruno Guimarães. The Newcastle United midfielder has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Premier League champions, and inside the game his potential move is drawing heavyweight approval of its own.

Claude Makélélé, one of the greatest holding midfielders of the modern era and a Chelsea legend, has given Arsenal’s pursuit of Guimarães his full backing. Speaking to ComeOn, Makélélé highlighted how closely the Brazilian’s ambitions mirror the project Arteta is building.

“Bruno Guimaraes is an ambitious player who sees his career one way: Champions League football, always, and teams built to win titles in Europe,” he said.

From Makélélé’s perspective, Arsenal are no longer a romantic idea or a long-term project. They are a destination for players at their peak.

“Arsenal tick every box. They won the Premier League, they've gone deep in the Champions League, and they're built to go again. It's always right for a good player to join a great team, and Arsenal have done great business.”

The praise did not stop there. Makélélé underlined Guimarães’ quality and the way his style dovetails with Arteta’s blueprint.

“Bruno Guimaraes is a very good player, exceptional, as we saw with Brazil. It's his career and his decision, but his game fits Arsenal perfectly.”

Two great midfielders from rival eras, two different names, one shared conclusion: Arsenal, as reigning champions and Champions League contenders, have become a magnet for elite central midfielders.

Whether it is the dynamism of Koné or the control and class of Guimarães that eventually walks through the doors at London Colney, Arteta’s next move in the middle of the pitch will say plenty about how he intends to keep Arsenal at the summit.