Guardiola's third favour to Arteta to solve Arsenal's midfield problem

FT Desk

• 29 Oct 2022 16:01 BST
• 3 min read

Pep Guardiola has already allowed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to be reunited with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, and now a third Manchester City player is set to follow…

Arteta was Guardiola's assistant at Man City for three years before leaving to take the top job at Arenal in December 2019, and finishes of eighth, eighth and fifth have followed in the Premier League since.

Arsenal have hit the ground running this season, though, and they will return to the top of the league, two points above City, if they beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

READ: Arsenal’s three-man £50m January shortlist headed by Mudryk

Jesus and Zinchenko - who arrived for a combined £77 million (€89.7m) this summer - have been a large part of the reason why, with the former in particular contributing five goals and three assists to their cause.

But central midfield remains a problem area, with Thomas Partey's injury record a cause for concern. Ilkay Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the season, and the German could be the final piece of the puzzle at the Emirates.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell thinks the 32-year-old is sure to move.

READ: Guardiola keen to keep Gundogan at City as Arsenal transfer rumours intensify

"The problem is his contract is running out and in January he'll be able to speak to European clubs," he told Football Insider. "Why have they not secured him? It doesn't look to me as if he's a priority.

"He's a fantastic player and has been the difference for Man City in key games. He's not their priority though, clearly. I think Gundogan will leave. If there was an opportunity to secure his services for another season or two they would've done it already."

Can Gundogan still help Arsenal?

Able to play more than one position in midfield, Gundogan's ability to break late into the box could provide welcome cover for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, especially with Emile Smith Rowe's ongoing injury problems.

But he has tended to line up deeper as a No.8 or even a No.6 this season, from where he has averaged four progressive passes and four shot-creating actions per 90 minutes he has played.

Arsenal would be getting another dressing room leader from City, one who wouldn't cost a thing.