Transfer Centre

Mikel Arteta 'expecting Arsenal to sign new midfielder'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 05 January 2021

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reportedly expects the club to sign a creative midfielder despite Emile Smith Rowe's impressive performances.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reportedly expects the club to sign a new creative midfielder this month.

Despite the recent emergence of Emile Smith Rowe in the number 10 role, the Gunners are still believed to be in the market for a playmaker in the current transfer window.

Isco and Julian Brandt have both been mentioned as possible targets, but Arsenal have now supposedly turned their attention to Norwich City's Emiliano Buendia, with a player-plus-cash deal for the £40m-rated Argentinian potentially on the cards.

According to CBS Sports, Smith Rowe's form has not changed Arsenal's stance and the North London outfit will still look to land a new midfielder in the coming weeks.

The Gunners supposedly want to ship out Mesut Ozil this month, and the report claims that he has been offered to Juventus, but the Old Lady rejected the chance to sign the German with Dejan Kulusevski already on the books in Turin.

Arsenal have risen to 11th in the Premier League table following three wins on the trot, and Smith Rowe has started in all of those matches against Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion.