Unai Emery has reportedly phoned Thomas Meunier personally to get him to pick Arsenal over Manchester United, using his relationship with the player as his former boss to try and get him to London.

A few days ago, RMC correspondent Sacha Tavolieri reported that Meunier has been in discussions with Unai Emery for a month now, and there are suggestions that a contract offer is already on the table. According to Tavolieri, Meunier is excited by the opportunity to join Arsenal in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Nicolo Schira of La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the Gunners are in advanced talks with PSG over the signing. They’ve reportedly offered the 27-year-old a five-year contract, and it’s just up to the two clubs to finalise the deal.

Manchester United, however, are reportedly also in the picture and Unai Emery is hoping that his personal touch will swing the deal Arsenal’s way.

Meunier is a right-back who has also spent a lot of time on the wings in the past, making him ideally suited to Emery’s style of football. He has five goals and seven assists this season and he’s strong with both feet, so it’s very possible he could end up playing on the left when Hector Bellerin returns.

Nonetheless, the signing would be a bit of a surprise, given Meunier is not a centre-back, nor a central midfielder, nor an out-and-out winger. Unless Emery plans to use the Belgian international further forward, it seems strange to use a fair portion of the club’s small budget on one of the only positions we have a good player for.