Arsenal have allowed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to join AS Roma on a loan deal and after the move was officially announced, Mikel Arteta has made a very straightforward admission.
Maitland-Niles hardly got any game time at the Emirates this season so his move to Italy makes perfect sense. But allowing him to move out has made Arsenal really thin in the midfield area.
The Gunners boss has admitted to this fact and he’s also made it clear that after this move, signing a new midfielder during the January transfer window has become a priority for the club.
“We are very very short at the moment, but to be fair on a player this cannot be the only argument to try to keep a player, and a player who has been developed and raised through our Academy, and a player that has been patient in many moments to try to fulfil his dream,” the Spaniard said when discussing the Maitland-Niles deal.
“He was very straight with me, and I understood the situation and (for him) it’s a good option.
“So obviously we are going to move, and we are going to look for options, because we are very short.”
Which midfielders are Arsenal currently scouting?
Ainsley Maitland-Niles could play various roles across the midfield but he was primarily a central midfielder and the Gunners will now look to fill that void.
Renato Sanches has been one player who has been linked with the club for some time now and as per some sources, Arteta and Edu are also keeping tabs on ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
🚨 Barcelona are ready to join Arsenal in the race to sign Lille midfielder Renato Sanches.
Sanches has become a 'priority signing' for Xavi as he hopes to make a few more additions in a bid to climb up La Liga table.
(Source: ELEVEN) pic.twitter.com/Jd2r58oifz
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 7, 2022
Wijnaldum has found life really difficult at PSG and he’s more than open to making a return to the Premier League. And since Thomas Partey has left for the AFCON, the Dutch international can fill up that void perfectly.
Apart from Wijnaldum, Arsenal are also keeping tabs on Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes and Juventus’ Arthur Melo.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Gunners have both these players on their shortlist but they are yet to make any sort of concrete moves for either one of them.
He wrote on Twitter: “Arsenal are working to sign a new midfielder. Bruno Guimarães appreciated but currently not discussed as January target – deal too complicated, €45m fee.
“Arthur Melo on loan has been discussed days ago – but still no talks/contacts with Juve. Three names in the list.”
Arsenal are working to sign a new midfielder. Bruno Guimarães appreciated but currently not discussed as January target – deal too complicated, €45m fee. 🔴 #AFC
Arthur Melo on loan has been discussed days ago – but still no talks/contacts with Juve. Three names in the list.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2022
The Gunners manager has publicly admitted that they need a new central midfielder so Edu is sure to pull some strings and bring in a player before the January transfer window comes to an end.
