All of a sudden, Arsenal are only four points ahead of Chelsea.
After a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday, the Gunners, who have been second for most of the 2024/25 campaign, could even slip outside of the top four in the Premier League, with tricky tests against Liverpool and Newcastle to come.
Ultimately, Mikel Arteta will mainly be focusing on the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against PSG on Wednesday.
Despite this newfound uncertainty over whether Arsenal will finish inside the top four, the north Londoners have now managed to edge ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal likelier to sign Jamie Gittens than Chelsea
Ruhr Nachrichten are now claiming that Arsenal have entered the race to sign the Borussia Dortmund No.43 in emphatic fashion.
The German news outlet state that Chelsea had already held talks to sign Gittens, but the Gunners now lead the race for his signature after muscling into the conversation.
It is said that the England U21 international feels he has a better chance of playing regularly under Arteta at Arsenal, whereas his pathway to receiving frequent game time under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea is less clear in his eyes.
Gittens – who has been likened to Joe Cole – and his representatives have already informed Borussia Dortmund that he would like a move this summer.
Photo by Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The 20-year-old is even said to have been repeating this regularly to teammates in the dressing room.
Ruhr Nachrichten add that Borussia Dortmund are unlikely to stand in the winger’s way, but will demand a fee of up to €60m (£50m).
Gittens – managed by Elite Project Group Limited, who also represent Bukayo Saka – has scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 46 appearances across all competitions so far this season, primarily playing on the left.
What Jude Bellingham has said about Jamie Gittens
If Arsenal can pull this signing off, Jude Bellingham would approve.
Jamie Gittens, what a talent 🤩
The young English winger makes it 𝘁𝘄𝗼 goals in ten minutes 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/pA30Kb4kcT
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 18, 2024
The Real Madrid No.5 worked with the Reading-born forward while at Borussia Dortmund, where he was left very impressed.
Bellingham hailed Gittens, telling Tuttosport that he feels his pal is worthy of winning the Golden Boy award one day, saying: “My old teammate Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, top talent.”
Therefore, if Arsenal seal this signing, they would be getting a player of huge potential.