Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta admits stars ask about his future double swoop mooted
Mirror Football looks at what’s been happening behind the scenes at Arsenal in recent days
Six years have now passed since Mikel Arteta made the plunge to take charge of Arsenal without any prior experience as a head coach. It’s fair to say that the former midfielder and captain has transformed the club from one in decline on and off the pitch to a title contender.
Yet for all he has done to position the Gunners among the English and European elite, question marks remain over his and his players’ ability to cross the finish line, having finished runners-up in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons.
Arteta will be determined to put those questions to rest this term as the festive period gathers pace with fixtures to come, as well as a potentially useful January transfer window on the horizon.
NOW, Mirror football takes a look at the manager’s recent comments on his future at Arsenal, as well as potential signings he could make next month.
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Arteta on the future
Arteta admits he cannot give his players any guarantees about his future at the moment. With 18 months left on his contract, fans remain worried about their manager’s future until he puts pen to paper.
It appears some of his players may also share these concerns as they begin contract negotiations with the club themselves, with Bukayo Saka one of the players whose contract will expire in the summer of 2027.
When asked if he would stay beyond his current contract, the Spaniard replied: “Yes, but that’s about today and a lot also needs to happen in the next few months to earn that right.
“I think the coach has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. It’s how you react, how you speak here, how you go in the dressing room, the message you send, how much the players follow you.”
He added: “They (Arsenal stars) ask me but I can’t lie to them. I don’t know, it’s something that doesn’t depend on me.
“Are you really happy here? Do you feel like you have the energy and do you feel like you can take on this club? Yes. One hundred percent, yes. But I think it’s not just up to me.”
Double transfer
Reports claim that Arsenal are planning a double transfer in the January window. The Gunners were expected to have a quiet January due to their huge spending this summer.
But CaughtOffside claims the north Londoners are concerned about injuries and squad depth as they eye an elusive Premier League title, leading sporting director Andrea Berta to examine options in the transfer market.
The two positions that would be on his agenda are central defense and central midfielder. 20-year-old Rennes starlet Jeremy Jacquet is a highly-rated name who has been mentioned as a potential January arrival, while Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is expected to leave as a free agent this summer.
Other defensive options include Ousmane Diomande of Sporting CP and Nathaniel Brown of Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi is considered a prodigious talent in central midfield, leading teams like Arsenal and Manchester United to track the 18-year-old.
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