Arsenal have often leaned on Manchester City for help in recent years.
The north Londoners looked to the Etihad Stadium after deciding to sack Unai Emery in December 2019, taking Mikel Arteta from Pep Guardiola and naming the Spaniard as their new manager.
Arsenal also turned to Manchester City for reinforcements to the playing staff, signing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Citizens in the summer of 2022.
Now, Manchester City have helped Arsenal again – albeit inadvertently – after a decision was made on Vitor Reis.
Manchester City save Arsenal some hassle as Vitor Reis verdict given
The Brazilian defender was a £30m signing from Palmeiras in January, but after making just three appearances, the Manchester Evening News now state that Guardiola feels Reis is not ready for the Premier League just yet.
Manchester City are now expected to loan the 19-year-old out.
More Man City News
It means Arteta has, not necessarily dodged a bullet, but been saved a task.
The Athletic recently claimed that Arsenal were seriously interested in signing Reis during the winter transfer window as well, feeling the teenager could be a competent backup option behind Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in central defence.
Bem-vindo, Vitor Reis! 🩵 pic.twitter.com/y5rDWFl8Cu
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 21, 2025
Arsenal have therefore been saved the hassle of spending £30m only to find out for themselves that the Brazilian is not yet up to the required standard, and also saved the mission of having to find him a suitable loan move this summer to aid his development.
Arsenal could instead turn to a player Manchester City sold in Aymeric Laporte
Having missed out on Reis – who Khaldoon Al Mubarak rates highly – Arsenal are still looking to sign another central defender, and could turn to a Manchester City outcast.
AS in Spain are reporting that Arsenal have enquired about Aymeric Laporte as Arteta searches for defensive reinforcements, a player Manchester City sold to Al Nassr in a £23.5m deal last August.
The Spain international only has 12 months left on his contract, with Aston Villa also interested.