Mikel Arteta makes decision on selling £45m Arsenal star in January

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are top of the Premier League and Champions League (Photo: Getty)

Mikel Arteta says he will not consider selling one Arsenal star in the January transfer window despite barely playing for the Gunners this season.

Arsenal are in a great position, top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup .

Many believe this is the season that the Gunners will finally end their two-decade long wait for a title, but their form has dipped of late, winning just two of their last five league games, most recently losing 2-1 at Aston Villa .

Arteta is also having to deal with an extensive injury list, with up to nine players potentially set to miss Saturday’s match against Wolves .

It is for that reason, that Arteta is not keen to lose any of his squad next month – even Gabriel Jesus who has been heavily linked with leaving the Emirates.

The forward has hardly played for the club over the past couple of years due to injuries, returning to action during Wednesday’s win at Club Brugge after 11 months in the treatment room following yet another painful knee injury.

The 28-year-old faces a battle to get back into the starting XI due to his fitness issues and competition from Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and even makeshift centre-forward Mikel Merino.

Gabriel Jesus has missed 82 games for Arsenal and Brazil because of injuries since 2022 (Photo: Getty)

Jesus has spoken openly about his desire to return to boyhood club Palmeiras one day and it has been suggested he could seek a transfer in a last-ditch attempt to make the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup.

But when asked if he would be open to selling Jesus, Arteta, speaking in his pre-match press conference, replied: ‘I don’t consider that, especially with the situation that we have right now.

‘I think Gabriel has a lot to offer to the team and he’s proven that straightaway in the first minute that he was available to play he’s put so much to be in this position again and now the focus is to be with us.

‘We know his quality, a player that has given us so much and he comes with the energy that came the other day. He’s certainly a player that has to be pushing and aiming [to start], that’s for sure.’

Reports last month claimed the Gunners were open to a sale , while their continues to be speculation around the immediate future of wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri .

The 18-year-old has immense talent and potential but has started just three games this season, none in the Premier League, with summer signings Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke keeping him out of the XI.

Could Ethan Nwaneri leave Arsenal on loan in January? (Photo: Getty)

It has been suggested that the attacking midfielder should be allowed to leave on loan for the rest of the campaign, but Arteta claims the teenager is not itching for a move and praised his efforts on the training ground.

‘In the same manner that other players have to cope with this kind of situation, preparing in the best possible way, I think he’s doing it,’ the manager said.

‘His attitude has been excellent and when he’s got the chance to play, he proved that I’m wrong, that he needs to play more minutes and help the team as much as possible.

‘Ethan’s attitude on that [ being asked to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly] is exceptional. He wants to train and he wants to be outside and he wants to be in touch with that ball. In that sense, he’s top.’