Amid the links to a potential transfer to Arsenal this summer, Jonathan David has admitted Thierry Henry is one of his inspirations.
In recent months, Jonathan David has been one of the names regularly mentioned as being on Arsenal’s summer transfer shortlist.
The Gunners are in the market for a new striker, and whilst David sits joint-second in the Ligue 1 top scorers table, he appears to be available for a summer move.
We won’t get a decision on his future anytime soon. Lille are currently focusing on a stuttering Ligue 1 campaign and looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit in their Champions League knockout tie against Chelsea.
David has other things to think about, and you can try out the Bet365 app for iPhone to bet on his matches. But one hint about his future could come in his latest interview about his footballing inspirations, in which he credited Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
“Thierry Henry, the way he drops off, dribbles with the ball and takes on players,” David began.
“Watching the little details of his game is something you can take and put into your game.
“For me, it was about working hard and putting the work in. I like to work on dribbling, on driving with the ball, being more dangerous with the ball at my feet, and taking on defenders.
“And after, you just have to try to implement it, you have to be willing to have the guts and try it in games to see how it goes.
“Because if you don’t do it, it’s never going to come off and you’re just training for nothing.”
Various English outlets have reported that David is one of the centre-forward options Arsenal are looking at ahead of the summer transfer window, along with the more widely reported names like Alexander Isak and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Speaking to Radio Canada in January, David’s agent Nick Mavromaras said the player will finish the current campaign with Lille, but he’s not planning to stick around.
“For us, the goal is to finish the season with Lille, but this will be his last season there for several reasons,” Mavromaras said.
“I think the Premier League is a great option for him. I think he likes Spain a lot too.
“These two leagues are the main priorities for him, but nothing is being ruled out.
“You never know with Paris Saint-Germain or the big Italian clubs. It’s normal that all these big clubs are interested in the top scorer in Ligue 1, but I can tell you that, today, there’s no official offer.”
David has scored 16 goals so far this season, since his move to France last year. Though he’s on a bit of a drought at the moment, with no club goals since his final game in 2021.
The Canadian international has been consistently prolific for his country at least, scoring 20 and assisting 11 in his 27 international appearances. He scored or assisted in each of the three World Cup qualifiers over the January break.