Arsenal step up their pursuit of midfielder with face-to-face talks
Last Updated: January 20, 2022 2:32 pm
Arsenal need midfield reinforcements
Arsenal are in desperate need of reinforcements in central midfield, with Granit Xhaka’s red card further underlining this fact.
This left just summer signing Sambi Lokonga as the senior option against Liverpool at Anfield last week, while Mikel Arteta was forced into handing youngster Charlie Patino his full debut for the club a week earlier in the FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest (though he may well have done anyway).
And while Thomas Partey has now returned to the club, Arsenal remain short in the middle of the park.
Arthur attempts stepped up
Now, the attempts to bring in Arthur have been stepped up further, following face to face meetings about a potential loan move for the Brazilian.
The move has been mooted for the last week, but nothing concrete has emerged.
Now, according to the reliable Charles Watts of Goal.com:
“Arsenal are keen to get Arthur’s move finalised as quickly as possible, with technical director Edu holding face-to-face talks with the midfielder’s agent on Wednesday afternoon.
Federico Pastorello travelled to Arsenal’s London Colney training base for the meeting and the Gunners hope negotiations with Juventus will soon start to move forward.”
Meanwhile, Arthur is reportedly keen to play in what he considers to be “the best league in the world”.
Arsenal stepping up their pursuit of Arthur – Edu held face to face talks with his agent today.
Story 👇https://t.co/yh5qJ8WPju
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 19, 2022
However, it is not all good news. There is still the Juventus hurdle to overcome, with the Old Lady not willing to part ways with the Brazilian unless they can bring in a replacement this window.
Arthur Melo talks continue between Arsenal and Juventus. His agent Pastorello was in London and met with Arsenal director Edu today, as per @charles_watts. ⚪️🔴 #AFC
Arsenal are pushing because Arteta wants him. Loan proposal on the table but Juventus ask for different formula. pic.twitter.com/YueDfzf3ns
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 19, 2022
According to Fabrizio Romano, Juve are also keen on a “different formula”, although whether that relates to the terms of the loan or the addition of an option/obligation to buy remains unclear.
With Thomas Partey returning early from the Africa Cup of Nations after Ghana’s shock loss at the hands of Comoros, the burden is set to ease in midfield, but another body would be most welcome.
Read more:
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This article was edited by Conor Laird.
Arsenal betting odds, next game:
Arsenal vs Everton odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
| Arsenal vs Everton Result/Both teams score | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 21/10 | 13/8 |
| Everton | 10/1 | 11/1 |
| Draw | 4/1 | 14/1 |
| Arsenal vs Everton Goalscorers | First | Last | Anytime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandre Lacazette | 11/5 | 11/5 | 1/1 |
| Eddie Nketiah | 12/5 | 12/5 | 11/10 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | 11/4 | 11/4 | 7/5 |
| Bukayo Saka | 10/3 | 10/3 | 8/5 |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 10/3 | 10/3 | 12/5 |
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 37 | 72 | 90 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 36 | 65 | 86 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 36 | 42 | 70 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 37 | 24 | 68 |
| 5 | Arsenal FC | 37 | 9 | 66 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 37 | 1 | 58 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 37 | 11 | 56 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 37 | -3 | 51 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 36 | 0 | 48 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 37 | -4 | 48 |
| 11 | Brentford FC | 37 | -7 | 46 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 37 | -19 | 46 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 36 | 4 | 45 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 36 | -1 | 44 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 36 | -20 | 40 |
| 16 | Everton FC | 36 | -20 | 36 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 37 | -38 | 35 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 36 | -18 | 34 |
| 19 | Watford FC | 37 | -42 | 23 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 37 | -56 | 22 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 22 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 18 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 16 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 15 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 15 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 15 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 14 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 13 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 13 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 12 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 12 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 11 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 11 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 11 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa | 11 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 10 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 10 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 10 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 11 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 10 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bednarek, Jan | Southampton FC | 0 | 10 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 10 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 9 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 7 |
| James, Daniel | Leeds United | 1 | 7 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 8 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 10 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 10 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 9 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City | 8 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 8 |
| Kulusevski, Dejan | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Mbeumo, Bryan | Brentford FC | 7 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
