There’s an extra flair to Arsenal this season. The golden tint of champions has reflected well against Mikel Arteta‘s side and a 2-1 victory over Chelsea only continued an early march towards a title defence.
Martin Odegaard’s winner was particularly impressive. Gone were the set-pieces, arrived was the subtle Kai Havertz dummy followed by a thumping finish. It was the free-flowing move that so many have been desperate to witness at The Emirates. And this could just be the start.
It’s already been reported that Arsenal missed out on several key attacking targets in the summer, including Chelsea’s goalscorer Morgan Rogers, and that makes the January window all the more interesting.
|
Arsenal’s missed attacking targets |
From |
Position |
|---|---|---|
|
Morgan Rogers |
Aston Villa |
Attacking midfielder |
|
Bradley Barcola |
PSG |
Winger |
|
Kenan Yildiz |
Juventus |
Winger |
|
Eli Junior Kroupi |
Bournemouth |
Forward |
|
Vinicius Jr |
Real Madrid |
Winger |
|
Julian Alvarez |
Atletico Madrid |
Striker |
|
Malick Fofana |
Lyon |
Winger |
|
Alex Scott |
Bournemouth |
Central midfielder |
|
Jeremy Monga |
Leicester City |
Winger |
The Gunners reportedly had as many as 21 names on their summer shortlist, but struggled to get several key names over the line and failed to land an attacking signing for the rest of the summer following the early move for Christos Tzolis. This is despite targeting Rogers, Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool, Vinicius Junior, Julian Alvarez and many others.
That will be the top priority in north London when the January window swings open alongside the chance to welcome attacking target Mohamed Kader Maite.
Arsenal readying January move to sign Meite
Andrea Berta is already preparing for the winter window. Football FanCast understands that Arsenal are now readying a move to sign Meite from Al-Hilal during the January transfer window.
The Premier League champions already held talks with the forward’s representatives during the summer and have maintained that contact in preparing for the new year.
Meite, himself, was keen on a return to Europe in the summer, only for Al-Hilal to block any of his attempts to leave. New sporting director Richard Hughes, formerly of Liverpool, is now set to make a decision about the 18-year-old’s long-term future at the Saudi Pro League club.
It wouldn’t just be a blow for Al-Hilal if Meite left for Arsenal, either. Tottenham are also interested and have made contact with the player’s agents, seeing him as a top target to freshen up their ageing forward line. The Lilywhites didn’t hesitate to spend big in the summer, but are still keen to add a young forward and have also made contact for Argentinian talent Leonel Flores.
Sources understand it is the Gunners who are currently in pole position for Meite, but whether that will be enough to sign the 6 foot 4 attacker, who has scored seven goals in 44 senior appearances for Al-Hilal and Stade Rennais, remains to be seen.
A player with “elite” potential, according to scout Jacek Kulig, Meite is certainly one to watch with several teams set to join a huge transfer race if he becomes available.