Arsenal boss Mikel Artetaplaceholder image
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta | Getty Images
Mikel Arteta has the chance to further bolster his Arsenal squad in the January transfer window
Arsenal are hoping that they can finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy this season. They are sat top of the table after their first 11 fixtures and have lost only once. The London club are four points clear of Manchester City in 2nd.
The Gunners drew 2-2 away at Sunderland in their last game before the international break. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their goals against the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light but they weren’t able to get the win in the end. Mikel Arteta’s side are back in action this weekend against rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal linked with Napoli and Scotland star Scott McTominay
Arsenal have been linked with a move for £70m-rated Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay along with Manchester United, Spurs and Everton, as per a report by TEAMtalk, ahead of the January transfer window. The Scotland international, who has 66 caps to date, is under contract in Italy until June 2028. That means his current club are under no pressure to sell him anytime soon and can wait for the right offer to come in for his services before they consider cashing in.
McTominay, 28, would be an ideal addition for the Gunners if they managed to lure him back to England. He would inject more quality into Arteta’s squad. In addition, he would provide with more of a physical presence in the heart of the pitch.
The Lancaster-born Tartan Army favourite rose up through the academy at Manchester United and was a regular at various different youth levels. He broke into the Red Devils’ first-team as a youngster and went on to make 255 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with 29 goals. Napoli then came calling in 2024 and he has since become a key player for the Serie A giants. He has found the net on 17 occasions in 50 matches.
McTominay won the Italian top flight in the last campaign. He has also now helped Scotland qualify for the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico next summer. He scored a spectacular overhead kick in their latest clash against Denmark at Hampden Park as they ran out 4-2 winners.
Arsenal should propose swap deal for Scott McTominay
Arsenal should think outside the box in their potential pursuit of McTominay. They should offer Napoli a player in return to try and tempt them into selling. Myles Lewis-Skelly isn’t guaranteed regular minutes at the moment and a change of scene, either on loan or permanently, would do him good.
At the age of just 19, he still has bags of potential but his development has stalled a bit over recent times. He needs to go somewhere he can get consistent game time. The teenager hasn’t been able to get into the Gunners’ starting XI ahead of Riccardo Calafiori and has warmed the bench in the league.
Lewis-Skelly, who has featured on six occasions for England, played 39 times for Arsenal last term but hasn’t been seen as much recently. Therefore, going abroad to Napoli could help him show what he is capable of again. In addition, getting out of his comfort zone in a different country can help boost his confidence and get himself back on track again.
Arteta has been reluctant to change a winning team which has seen Lewis-Skelly fall out of favour somewhat. He can still have a bright future ahead of him but if him having to leave to get someone like McTominay in is question, it would be a no-brainer decision.
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