Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta’s £65m transfer opportunity clear as star shows true colours
Mirror Football brings you the latest news from Emirates Stadium, including a stunning transfer reveal
Arsenal face Brighton in their penultimate Premier League match of 2025 on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners went into the table top of the table for Christmas but will need all three points at home to the Seagulls, with Manchester City increasing the pressure in the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s men next face Aston Villa on Tuesday, having suffered an agonizing defeat when the two sides clashed at Villa Park just a few weeks ago. Arsenal still have a chance of winning all four competitions they enter this season following the Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace in midweek.
Yet despite their closest rivals looking for reinforcements, the Gunners are thought to have a quiet January transfer window, as Mirror football takes a look at two of the latest Arsenal stories.
LEARN MORE: Mikel Arteta caught off guard by Arsenal record and says ‘the rules are different now’LEARN MORE: Mikel Arteta’s Eberechi Eze Arsenal move ‘makes no sense’ after £67.5m move
Semenyo’s preference emerges
Antoine Semenyo’s preferred destination last January would have been Arsenal. The Bournemouth winger is reportedly close to joining Manchester City, with rivals Arsenal expected to fend off interest from Manchester United and Liverpool to successfully trigger his £65million release clause early next month.
It’s a major blow for Arteta, especially as latest reports claim the 25-year-old Ghanaian would have happily chosen Arsenal over City, given he has supported the Gunners since a young age. The Athletic reports that the in-form striker’s ‘first choice’ was Arsenal had they entered into negotiations.
But even if the north Londoners liked Semenyo, a move for the player would have had to wait until the summer of 2026, given how much they spent last summer. Ultimately, Semenyo’s urgency to move on in January before his release clause expires is a key factor in his likely move.
Liverpool are also said to be admirers of the player, while Chelsea have made tentative inquiries about a player who already has eight Premier League goals this season. United, meanwhile, have made a tough play to sign the Cherries star, but it has always been accepted that a deal would be difficult, given their desire to immediately compete for the game’s top prizes.
Martinelli’s true colors
Gabriel Martinelli has revealed how he supported his Arsenal compatriot Gabriel Jesus during his recovery from an ACL injury. Jesus has spent most of this year rehabbing after suffering a torn ACL in January.
The striker made his long-awaited return against Club Brugge in the Champions League earlier this month, admitting he had “collapsed mentally” and had “300 bad days” due to his absence from the football field. But Jesus was fortunate that fellow Brazilian Martinelli relied on his own injuries to support him.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Martinelli said: “I also had problems with my meniscus a few years ago and I know it’s not easy to be out for that long. When I had the opportunity to be with him, I was there.
“I tried to be with him to talk because I know it’s a difficult time, even though he’s older than me I also tried to be close to him. He’s one of the guys that when I was so young I used to watch him on TV playing for Palmeiras in Brazil.
“It’s only three years difference, but he joined the first team so quickly when he was 16. I was 12 or 13 and I watched him, so I always tell him that. It’s really good to have him back and hopefully in the next games he can score and do well.”
Discounted Premier League and EFL package on Sky Sports
£43
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has lowered the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports front package the 2025/26 season, saving the members £192 and offering over 1,400 live matches from the Premier League, EFL and more.
The sky will show at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, an increase of up to 100 more.