Arsenal aren't going to rest on their laurels during the January transfer window. Mikel Arteta's side perch atop the Premier League pile, but their rivals are gearing up for some winter shopping.
For example, Manchester City are honing in on the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, and clubs are anticipated to be in for a busy winter window.
Arsenal might be in a strong position, but it wouldn't be unwise to continue to add layers to the team, who are challenging in the Champions League and enduring another injury-hit campaign.
Captain Martin Odegaard has been among those to have missed a considerable chunk of the 2025/26 campaign, and while adding some defensive depth is arguably more pressing, the north Londoners could do with another piece in the engine room.
Arsenal considering a new midfielder
Kai Havertz is on the cusp of a much-anticipated return to action. The German has not featured this season. A dynamic and versatile player, he is principally a forward but has played ample in midfield in recent years.
This is something Arteta may look to repeat as Viktor Gyokeres continues to adapt to life in London, but technical director Andrea Berta is bound to be on the lookout for new additions.
andrea-berta-arsenal-premier-league
Arsenal have one of the strongest squads in Europe, and any deals are set to be opportunistic, moving for a rising talent who has yet to hit their prime.
Sky Sports have recently confirmed that Arsenal are scouting Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, with the 20-year-old enjoying an impressive breakout campaign in La Liga amid interest from Real Madrid.
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The Telegraph reported back in November that Berta has been tracking the young Spaniard, who has a release clause in his contract worth about £17m and has the technicality to succeed in the Premier League.
Why Arsenal should sign Rodrigo Mendoza
Arsenal's data analysts are among the best in the business. They have been scouting Mendoza for some time, and he has been billed as a star in the making by journalist Antonio Mango, who described him as an "underrated" midfielder with the right skillset for a possession-oriented outfit.
Most don't know the name just yet, but this is certainly one to keep an eye on, with Barcelona superstar Pedri actually namechecking his rising countryman as being a midfielder who resembles his own style of play. Pedri, it need not be said, is one of the most gifted midfielders in world football.
In turn, Mendoza could find himself becoming Martin Zubimendi's understudy at the Emirates Stadium. Zubimendi, 26, joined the club from Real Sociedad this summer in a £60m deal.
Zubimendi-Arsenal
The Spanish midfielder is excellent on the ball, metronomic and intelligent with his distribution alongside the robust Declan Rice.
The 2024 European champion is also capable of producing a show-stopping moment, with his spectacular strike against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in September, half of a brace, a testament to that.
Zubimendi, for sure, shares technical properties with Pedri, and this blend of athleticism, steely defending and effortless passing is a package that Mendoza has the ability to emulate.
Moreover, the young midfielder, who has featured 12 times in La Liga for ninth-place Elche this season, is a startling dribbler, with FBref ranking him among the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons, as well as the top 25% for chances created per 90.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
Under Arteta's wing, Arsenal have become one of the sharpest and slickest on-the-ball outfits in the country. Zubimendi has been instrumental in this, but Mendoza could help establish long-term continuity, billed as a playmaker cut from a similar cloth to Pedri, for example.
Premier League 25/26 - Most Team Possession
Team
Liverpool
Arsenal
Chelsea
Man City
Man United
Data via FBref
Whether Arsenal wrap up a deal in January remains to be seen, but the interest is real, and there's every chance that Berta and Arteta will strike as soon as the right opportunity presents itself.
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Arsenal are considering a move for a highly-rated youngster, which would be bad news for Myles Lewis-Skelly.