Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta names ideal signing as star's £35m release clause uncovered

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With the clock ticking in the January transfer window, it appears increasingly likely that Arsenal will not bring any players in this month. Mikel Arteta's side are currently flying high as they sit at the top of both the Premier League and the Champions League tables.

Arteta has previously been left to rue the Gunners' lack of activity in the mid-season window, as his sides faltered in the second half of campaigns and failed to clinch the title. But, this season, thanks to an unprecedented summer of transfers where Arsenal spent over £250million, he has a near-bulletproof squad at his disposal filled with quality.

That means after Ethan Nwaneri’s loan move to Marseille this week, Arsenal are not expected to complete any more deals until the summer. Nevertheless, Mirror Football now takes a look at two of the latest transfer stories involving the league leaders.

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Arteta has described his ideal striker while explaining why the Gunners chose to sign Viktor Gyokeres last summer over Benjamin Sesko. After a lengthy summer transfer saga where it was unclear which forward they would sign, Arsenal eventually landed Gyokeres from Portuguese side Sporting CP for £64m.

That allowed Manchester United to sign Sesko from RB Leipzig later in the summer in a £73.3m deal. When asked what qualities he was looking for when he made his decision, Arteta replied: “Well, first of all, goals. Someone that can guarantee you goals.

“We know that word doesn’t exist, but then someone very direct, very powerful, a proper nine who can stretch the pitch, who has the goal between the eyes, and somebody that can stretch the pitch for us a bit more, especially when we have to play against certain opposition.”

When asked to give a verdict on the Swede’s underwhelming season so far, Arteta insisted: “It’s very early to assess. I mean, let’s assess at the end of the season and something like that is even a very short sample.

“Understanding as well the league that we are competing and what is happening with the nines across the league as well, in the manner that the game is changing. So there are a lot of factors there to bear in mind to assess the player and then we’re going to assess the player not only with one of the aspects of the game but in many aspects of the game.”

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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is understood to be busy preparing for the upcoming summer transfer window, where the Gunners will focus on forwards and left-wingers. According to numerous reports, the north Londoners are keeping an eye on Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong, among other potential signings.

Cameroonian Etta Eyong has six goals and three assists in 17 La Liga appearances this season for the Spanish side. It is claimed the 22-year-old’s performances have drawn attention from Arsenal, who may have to fend off interest from the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid if they are serious about securing his signature.

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