SETTABLOID

Arsenal have only signed one player aged 29 or over since Mikel Arteta was appointed as head coach in December 2019. Should they complete a late move for Ollie Watkins in the January transfer window, then that will become two.

Following on from Jorginho two years ago, Watkins would become just the second player in this category to be signed under the Arteta regime. Unlike Jorginho, who came in on the cheap as a short-term solution and injection of experience into a young squad, Watkins is a world away in more ways than one.

Not only is his price six times higher and rising after Aston Villa rejected an opening £60million bid earlier this month – but he is also in the upper bracket of quality. Jorginho was going to be out of contract in the summer after Arsenal bought him. His deal was an initial two-and-a-half years.

For Watkins, in order to prize him away from Villa it would take a significantly longer and bigger outlay. His wages, as one of the Premier League’s top strikers, would be much larger and he would surely be demanding at least a four-year commitment.

For Arsenal, that would take Watkins to his 33rd birthday and beyond. He is currently contracted at Villa until 2028. Their commitment to him here is unlike anything we have seen at the club for a while.

Jorginho was a stop-gap and a useful addition. Watkins is someone with a lot more to offer in terms of lifting the team through the rest of the season and beyond.

Sporting CP are through the Champions League knockout phase after avoiding defeat to already-eliminated Bologna despite the absence of Viktor Gyokeres.

Gyokeres, 26, did not make the matchday squad in Lisbon on Wednesday night despite playing all but the final few minutes of their league match last weekend. It is the first time the Sweden international has been unavailable for a game for his club or country all season.

Without their talisman, Sporting fell behind in the first half after Tommaso Pobega put the visitors ahead after Sam Beukema flicked on a Nikola Moro corner. The Portuguese champions had lost three consecutive matches in the Champions League since beating Manchester City in early November, coinciding with Ruben Amorim ‘s departure.

Facing down a fourth meant they were minutes away from elimination before Conrad Harder equalised in the 77th minute with his first Champions League goal after turning in a Joao Simoes cross. The teenage striker started in place of Gyokeres for the second time in a week, having also done so away against RB Leipzig in their penultimate league phase game.

Gyokeres was a substitute on that occasion and came off the bench to equalise briefly for Sporting after replacing Harder before the hosts soon retook the lead. But a week on, Rui Borges could not turn to the Swede and had to rely on his Scandinavian strike partner to fire them into the play-off round, where they will play either Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund.

That means Gyokeres will still be playing Champions League football next month and should only aid Sporting in holding onto the player beyond Monday’s transfer deadline. The striker reportedly missed the Bologna game with a knee injury, which CNN Portugal reports will also keep him out this weekend against Farense.

Arsenal progreessed to the last-16 of the competition but their rotated side were certainly tested by Girona. Two penalties, two goals ruled out, it was certainly entertaining.

Arsenal had the ball in the net in the first 10 minutes, however Riccardo Calafiori ended up being flagged rightly for offside. This mistake was punished then by a former Tottenham player as Arnaut Danjuma took advantage of some terrible Neto goalkeeping.

The Gunners hit back quickly though with Thomas Partey winning a penalty that Jorginho dispatched. Then came the wonderkid, as Ethan Nwaneri curled in an excellent strike past Pau Lopez.

Neto – Nervy moment at the beginning of the match, nearly losing the ball in his own half but was bailed out. Then was caught in no man’s land for the goal and beaten easily by Arnaut Danjuma. 4

Thomas Partey – Caught out for the Girona goal, passed inside and Danjuma able to run away from him with ease. He did in some ways redeem himself by winning a rather soft penalty kick after a foray into the box. 6

Jakub Kiwior – Question marks over the Pole’s positioning for the first goal. He did, however, recover in the game and produced some solid blocks and clearances to help in the second period. 6

Gabriel Magalhaes – Defensively the Brazilian was the consistent figure in Mikel Arteta’s selection for the game and it is little surprise as to why. A couple of headers from corners came and went and he should have arguably had a goal on the night. 7

Riccardo Calafiori – Had the ball in the back of the net but sadly timed his run too late and was flagged offside. He had a couple of shots at goal but failed to repeat his feat from the weekend at Wolves. 6

Arsenal take on Girona on the road in their final league game of the Champions League.

The Gunners have 16 points on the board after seven matches and they are pretty much guaranteed to finish in the top-eight positions.

Arsenal have a three-point lead and a seven-plus goal difference over ninth-placed Aston Villa heading into tonight’s game at the Estadi Montilivi.

Manager Mikel Arteta could be tempted to make a few changes due to the huge Premier League clash against Manchester City at home on Sunday.

Formation: 4-3-3

Predicted Line-up:

David Raya is poised to continue in goal for the Gunners. He has played every minute in Europe this term and will be eyeing a sixth clean sheet of the Champions League campaign.

We anticipate a couple of changes in the backline. William Saliba only recently returned from a minor muscle injury. Jakub Kiwior could partner Gabriel Magalhaes in central defence.

At left-back, Riccardo Calafiori could get the nod over Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Italian scored a wonderful goal to win the game at Wolves and could make his first start since his injury return.

Jurrien Timber has no competition at right-back with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined. The Dutchman was superb against Wolves with his defending and should keep his place.

In midfield, there could be a couple of changes. Jorginho and Martin Odegaard could come into the XI.

Thomas Partey could be handed a breather. Jorginho and Odegaard are likely to be accompanied by Declan Rice, who will aim to score for the second European game running.

Ethan Nwaneri started in central midfield last weekend but was substituted at the break after Lewis-Skelly’s sending-off. He could play on the right wing for the Gunners tonight.

We anticipate Gabriel Martinelli to get the nod over Leandro Trossard on the left wing with Kai Havertz leading the line. The German was guilty of squandering three clear-cut chances at Wolves.

Despite this, he remains the only realistic striking option with Gabriel Jesus injured. The 25-year-old has the opportunity to redeem himself with a strong performance with a goal or two.

How Arsenal could line up vs Girona

Arsenal are in real danger of running out of time to strengthen their squad before the end of the January transfer window. The Gunners haven’t made a single first-team signing so far this month.

A new striker is said to be the priority for Mikel Arteta, who is keen bolster his front-line. Speaking about his desire to sign a centre forward, Arteta said in his pre-Girona press conference on Tuesday: “Well, there are situations open and I always say the same. If we can improve the squad with players that can impact us for now, for the future, we will try to do that if it is the best thing for the club – and I stand on that.”

Benjamin Sesko, Evan Ferguson, Matheus Cunha and Jhon Duran are among the big names that have been linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium. With this in mind.

Nypan move

Arsenal are at the front of the queue to sign Sverre Nypan – with competition from Manchester City’s sister club Girona. The 18-year-old Norwegian prodigy, likened to Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard, impressed at Rosenborg last term. With 18 goal contributions in 33 games, he helped his team to a fourth-place finish in the Eliteserien.

Now, with just under a week of the January transfer window to go, The Guardian claims Arsenal are “hopeful” of clinching a deal for the central midfielder, despite interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham. Nypan was spotted in Erling Haaland’s private box during City’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, alongside his agent Rafaela Pimenta.

It’s crunch time in the January transfer window. Now, Mikel Arteta must lock in his final decisions of which Arsenal pieces to move across the board.

The window officially closes on Monday, February 3 and – as of right now – Arsenal are yet to conduct any business. This is despite persistent conversation around the striker position and amid a rapidly unfolding set of circumstances at full-back.

Arteta had started the season with Riccardo Calafiori on the left-hand side of defence though, three times already, has lost him to injury. He returned to net the winner at Wolves last weekend.

In that match, Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off for serious foul play. It put the 18-year-old on course to miss their next three matches against Manchester City in the Premier League, the League Cup semi-final second leg away to Newcastle United and then the following top-flight meeting with Leicester City.

Kieran Tierney would be required to step up, in either’s absence. The peculiarity of that situation is that his spell at Arsenal is, seemingly, coming towards their end.

Into the final six months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium,  the 27-year-old has been in discussions with Celtic over a return for some time.

Mikel Arteta can take the attention away from the officiating controversies of the weekend to look instead to Europe. While perhaps Arsenal would prefer a week off ahead of the game with Manchester City at the weekend, the match in Spain does allow Arteta to get some minutes into the legs of some fringe stars.

However, equally, if not more, important is the need to rest key players like Kai Havertz and William Saliba. The German effectively collapsed at the end of the weekend battle at Wolves and looked drained.

Arteta has limited options up top with calls to sign a centre-forward stronger than ever. With that in mind, here is the  predicted line-up for the clash with Girona.

Neto

Making his long-awaited debut following his loan move from Bournemouth. The Brazilian was cup-tied in the League Cup and like Aaron Ramsdale before him, gets a chance in the final European match of the first stage of the competition with very little to play for.

Thomas Partey

Naturally, it is almost impossible for every typical starter to be rested but Jurrien Timber is certainly one near the top of the list. With both Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu not back and some fitness concerns over Josh Nichols, Partey is really the only option.

Jakub Kiwior

After having a decent match in the role against Dinamo Zagreb besides one error, it makes sense that Jakub Kiwior would again come back into the fold for this low-stakes affair.

Gabriel Magalhaes

One of the most dependable options in the Arsenal defence and a threat from set pieces. As the most consistent defender in the side, it makes sense to keep his presence in the team.

Riccardo Calafio

After returning from injury, Mikel Arteta will want to get more minutes into the legs of Riccardo Calafiori. His goal at the weekend has been a big boost to him and the team and he will hope that does not slow down.