Mikel Arteta will be left to rue his mistakes during the international break and the Arsenal manager will also be considering summer transfer window choices
06:55, 23 Mar 2026Updated 07:02, 23 Mar 2026
Mikel Arteta has the international break to rue his mistakes and look towards the future
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Mikel Arteta has the international break to rue his mistakes and look towards the future
Mikel Arteta will be aiming to ensure his team's season doesn't go off the rails after a crushing Carabao Cup final defeat, as Arsenal also look towards the summer transfer window.
The Gunners' trophy drought continued as they lost 2-0 against Manchester City, with their manager outthought by his former mentor Pep Guardiola and paying the price for his controversial decision to start second choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of first choice stopper David Raya.
It was Kepa's howler that gifted Nico O'Reilly the opening goal and City the lead at Wembley, before he failed to stop the youngster adding a second. Arsenal now turn their attentions back to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the hunt for silverware as they ponder whether to go big again in the transfer market, having splashed out a whopping £250 last summer. Here's all the latest news from the Emirates.
Myles Lewis-Skelly prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Arsenal FC.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly has struggled for regular game time for Arsenal this season.(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Man Utd eye Lewis-Skelly
Manchester United are contemplating an audacious bid for Arsenal left back Myles Lewis-Skelly, reports the Mirror.
The 19-year-old has been a fringe player for the Gunners this season, playing backup - and sometimes even third choice - to Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie.
He hasn't touched a ball since Arsenal's fourth round FA Cup victory against Wigan last month and hasn't appeared in the Premier League since early January.
It represents a dramatic shift for a player who, following his breakthrough into the senior squad last season, seemed set to cement himself as a permanent fixture for Arsenal - and potentially England.
Mikel Arteta may have a big a decision to make about one of his fringe players at Arsenal
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Mikel Arteta may have a big a decision to make about one of his fringe players at Arsenal(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Nevertheless, with playing time now scarce, doubts are starting to emerge regarding his future in north London. United, meanwhile, are reported to have placed Lewis-Skelly on a four-man shortlist as they look to bolster their left-back options.
Worries over Luke Shaw's fitness issues, combined with expectations that Tyrell Malacia will move on, have heightened the need to strengthen in that position.
Whether Arsenal would approve a transfer to a direct competitor remains uncertain. But with Michael Carrick steering an upward trend at Old Trafford and first-team opportunities currently scarce, the possibility of a switch could appeal to Lewis-Skelly.
Bayern interest in Raya
David Raya missed the Carabao Cup final and Arsenal missed out on another trophy
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David Raya missed the Carabao Cup final and Arsenal missed out on another trophy(Image: Simon Dael/Shutterstock)
David Raya has disclosed that Bayern Munich tried to secure his signature before his switch to Arsenal.
The Spaniard initially arrived from Brentford on loan in 2023, with the arrangement becoming permanent a year later in a deal valued at approximately £30million.
Yet, prior to completing that transfer, Bayern had launched a determined effort to lure him to the Allianz Arena. Like Arsenal, the Bundesliga powerhouses were considering a loan arrangement with an option for a permanent deal.
Raya has confessed he came "very close" to signing for the German club, but ultimately feels his choice to move to north London proved correct.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I was very close to going to another club. Obviously everything happened with Arsenal, but I was very, very close to going to another club.
"But luckily that didn't happen and Arsenal in the end made the bid and I came here. Yeah, it was Bayern Munich." He added: "It was the best choice I've made, to come to this club."
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Raya has subsequently cemented his position as a cornerstone in Arsenal's starting XI, and his reliability across the last three campaigns has earned him recognition as one of the finest goalkeepers in both the Premier League and throughout Europe.