Arsenal Transfer News: Arda Turan Aims Gunners Dig While Discussing Barcelona

Arda Turan has discussed his move to Barcelona and aimed a barb at Arsenal in the process—suggesting those who play "very well" end up at the Camp Nou, while players who just "play well" move to the Gunners. 

He told Catalan newspaper Diari Ara (h/t Dan Gibbs of the Daily Express):

"

I felt that I would sign for Barca. In all honesty I used to think, 'If I play very well I will end up signing for Barca,' because my style fits into this team.

'If I play well, I will end up at Arsenal.'

Because of my style with the ball, playing simple, short, aggressively when needs be, but above all with high quality, I knew that I could make it at Barcelona.

"

He also praised team-mate Lionel Messi, though the Argentinian was not the driving force behind his decision to sign for Barca:

"

Everything about him is incredible; he is so quick to do everything, controlling, dribbling, he goes for it.

But his greatest trait is his tactical intelligence. It is amazing, better than all else. He is a very intelligent footballer. 

Is Messi's presence worth signing for? No. I am here to win the Champions League. [Messi], for me, is the greatest player in history but I am here to win titles.

"

Barcelona signed the Turkey international from Atletico Madrid last summer, but due to the Blaugrana's ban on registering players, he was unable to play for them until January.

Since making his debut on Jan. 6, he has made 17 appearances for Barca, scoring twice and assisting on four occasions. That included an outing against Arsenal at the Camp Nou as the Catalan giants knocked the Gunners out of the UEFA Champions League—Turan missed the first leg due to a suspension he picked up at Atletico.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

The midfielder has made a strong start to life at Barca, if not a sensational one—understandable after not being able to play for the first half of the season—but Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez believes he is constantly improving:

However, his discipline is an issue, having already picked up six yellow cards:

His combative style, tireless running and technical ability would make him an excellent signing for Arsenal, though he's now 29, and after just moving to Barca, he's likely to stay there some way into his 30s.

Turan's comments likely refer to the sense of underachievement that has pervaded the Gunners over the last decade and echo the words of Sky Sports' Guillem Balague, who was recently asked about the possibility of Real Madrid's Isco going to Arsenal: "Many people will say Isco is a typical Arsenal player. He is an elegant player who fails to fulfil his potential, doesn't score or assist enough and doesn't work hard enough without the ball."

While Arsenal are generally considered an elite club, it could be argued they no longer hold such status, having frequently finished outside the top two of the Premier League and exited the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage for six successive years.

Back-to-back FA Cup wins in 2014 and 2015 temporarily eased the frustrations of the Emirates Stadium faithful, but with the club likely to not only miss out on the Premier League again—this time to either Leicester City or Tottenham Hotspur of all clubs—and fail to even truly challenge for it, it's clear change is needed at least in terms of the playing squad.

The Times' Henry Winter believes changes should be rung throughout the club:

Though the Gunners have been able to attract top players in recent years, such as Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Petr Cech, Turan perhaps has a point—the likes of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck are good players and fine members of the squad but not spectacular.

Arsenal need to sign more marquee talent this summer—ideally players with drive and a winning mentality—or they'll suffer the consequences yet again next season.