Pep Guardiola has revealed that he expects Mikel Arteta to return the favor of his earlier backing by allowing two of Arsenal’s key players to move to Manchester City in January. Guardiola, aiming to thwart Liverpool’s title hopes, is reportedly targeting Arsenal’s top players to bolster City’s squad for the second half of the season.
In addition, Manchester City is said to be leading the race to sign highly-rated 16-year-old Arsenal prospect Ethan Nwaneri. The young midfielder, who has impressed at Arsenal’s Hale End Academy with standout performances for both the Under-18s and Under-21s, is also drawing interest from Chelsea. Due to his age, Nwaneri cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17, leaving room for rival clubs to make their move.
Nwaneri, who made history as Arsenal’s youngest-ever Premier League debutant at just 15, has yet to feature again for the senior team. His potential departure, alongside Charlie Patino’s recent exit, raises concerns about Arsenal’s ability to retain its top young talent.
Manchester City views Nwaneri as a promising talent and may offer him a development path similar to that of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis. Arsenal’s Under-18 coach, Jack Wilshere, has lauded Nwaneri’s versatility, calling him “exceptional” and noting his ability to play in various attacking roles.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Arsenal will need to act swiftly to keep hold of their rising stars, with Nwaneri’s future set to become a major talking point in the coming months.
