Arsenal welcomed Kai Havertz back to the starting line-up as they completed a perfect group phase in the Champions League, eight wins from eight, at home against Kairat Almaty.
Mikel Arteta, tactically so astute, has created a new footballing superpower at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners top of the Premier League too and favourites to end their decades-long title drought.
Arsenal's Premier League Rise under Mikel Arteta
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Data via Transfermarkt
It's perhaps a measure of this side's development that they appear content with the options at their disposal this winter, biding their time despite Manchester City's dual capture of top Premier League talent: Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo.
Havertz helps shore up a so-so Arsenal frontline, but Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta are always on the lookout for ways to improve this squad, and they may have identified a new midfielder.
Arsenal consider move for La Liga midfielder
Arsenal's set-piece dominance has been a thing of beauty this season, so efficient are the Londoners from corners and free kicks. However, open-play creativity could be turned up a notch, with Martin Odegaard drawing criticism for somewhat safe displays from the heart of midfield.
The Norwegian, club captain, remains one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League, but he's only created three big chances this season, and an average of 1.6 key passes per match is his lowest since the 2020/21 campaign, his first in north London.
It's understandable that Berta has started to assess young prospects with a view toward one day succeeding Odegaard.
And according to Spanish sources, Arsenal are the frontrunners in the race to sign Villarreal talent Alberto Moleiro, with rumours of a potential €50m (equating to £43m) offer beginning to surface.
Alberto-Moleiro-Las-Palmas
Given that the La Liga side signed the 22-year-old for a portion of that figure, they are willing to listen to a possible Gunners bid, though whether they plan to hold off until the end of the season, rather than striking inside the week, remains to be seen.
What Moleiro would bring to Arsenal
Berta knows the Spanish scene well, and having played a major role in the signing of Martin Zubimendi last summer, Arteta is sure to be receptive to any suggestions to raid La Liga for further top talents.
Moleiro could be the perfect addition, with his burgeoning technical skillset exactly what Arteta's project needs to develop into the next phase. A natural playmaker, the Spaniard has been hailed as a "brilliant" prospect by journalist and scout Antonio Mango.
alberto-moleiro-las-palmas
Alberto Moleiro for Las Palmas.
His playmaking expertise and "silky" style, as acknowledged by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could actually see Moleiro develop into Arteta's former Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil, moving from Spain to the English capital.
Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid way back in 2013 for a club-record £42.5m fee, and he would score 44 goals and supply 77 assists for the Londoners.
Moleiro is not a ready-made superstar, as Ozil was when he made the move to England, but the young playmaker has shown he has the potential to reach that standard.
In La Liga this season, Moleiro has posted eight goals and three assists across 20 matches, 17 starts. His 1.41 chances and 1.28 dribbles per game underscore his glowing attributes, ranking highly for both metrics. Moreover, he has completed 41% of his crosses, putting him in the top bracket there too.
Whether Moleiro would be billed as a potential Odegaard replacement by the Arsenal powers that be remains to be seen, but he certainly has an Ozil-esque quality about him.
Hailed by Arsene Wenger as the "complete athlete", the retired German international was a formidable creator but a well-rounded athlete too, and Moleiro could emulate that aspect of his game, his technicality and dynamism seeing him shift between the left flank and central midfield.
ozil-arsenal-stats
Ozil was often found on the right wing, though featured centrally many times under Wenger's leadership, going on to help Arsenal win four FA Cup titles during his time at the club.
With Arteta at the helm, bigger prizes are being eyed. Moleiro has the potential to become a superstar, someone who can act as a talisman in the middle of the park, making things happen as Declan Rice runs and conducts beside him.
mesut-ozil-arsenal-liverpool-goal
Odegaard is going nowhere at the moment, but as Berta trains his sights on his Spanish up-and-comer, it's a reminder that Arteta is never satisfied, always looking to take his team to the next level.
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The sensational star could spell the end for Odegaard at Arsenal.