Kylian Mbappe has shut down suggestions that he could join Arsenal in the summer as his contract at Paris Saint-Germain comes to an end. The French superstar is set to leave Ligue 1 with Real Madrid the expected destination, though clubs from across the world have been linked with him.
After making his stance clear last summer that he would not be remaining at the Parc des Princes past this summer there has been a scramble to battle for his signature moving forward. As one of the best club's in Europe at present, the Gunners have been in the mix.
However, as Mbappe gets closer and closer to his PSG farewell and the prospect of him lining up for Los Blancos next year becomes increasingly likely, any outside chance Mikel Arteta had of brining the two-time World Cup Golden Boot winner to north London has been shot down, with the forward insisting 'there's no way' he'd consider a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking in a video posted on Twitter by user @mikeypoulli, Mbappe is asked to join Arsenal. His reaction appears to tell the full story. In an embrace at what appears to be a backroom at PSG, Mbappe's response is telling.
"Arsenal!" he says in surprise before smiling, turning away, and laughing. He then hugs Mikey and continues to grin. Mbappe is then told, "we'll look after you," to which he says, "there's no way, there's no way."
Continuing to take the funny side of things, Mbappe keeps on smiling and laughing before being asked why he wouldn't move to the Emirates Stadium. "It's too cold there," he says.
READ MORE: Arsenal face Bayern in Champions League quarter-finals with potential semi-final vs Man City
READ MORE: Harry Kane handed dream Champions League scenario as Tottenham legend can inflict Arsenal pain
Although it's unlikely to come as a surprise to many that Mbappe isn't on the verge of joining the Arteta project, this may well be the final nail in the coffin. Last month Arteta insisted his club should be chasing Mbappe ahead of his upcoming availability this summer.
"When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation," he said. "But … it looks to be in a different way." Asked whether that meant Arsenal were involved in any discussions about Mbappe he replied: "I am not! Maybe Edu [the sporting director] and the owners are, but I am not in those conversations until the last stage."
