Arsenal send Viktor Gyokeres direct message as Mikel Arteta 'plots' £50m January transfer

Arsenal equalled their biggest European win on Tuesday evening with a dominant 5-1 victory against Sporting CP in the Champions League. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard were all on target for Mikel Arteta's side as they looked back to their very best.

The night appeared to be set for Viktor Gyokeres, who has been linked with an Arsenal transfer, to again steal the show but it was Saka, Martin Odegaard and Co. that showed their quality. Following the return of the captain, Arsenal have again been operating as a well-oiled machine with eight goals now scored in their last two games.

As such, suggestions that a marquee attacking signing is needed will have certainly lessened. To be exactly that for the Gunners, Gyokeres is the big name being discussed but he was mostly kept quiet by Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

However, Arsenal transfer rumours are remaining rife ahead of January with the latest on Gyokeres and a £50million winter window plan among the headlines.

Arsenal's message to Gyokeres

Arsenal sent an emphatic message to people doubting their conviction while one of their reported transfer targets was on the pitch. Five different scorers showed the danger that Arsenal possess with Havertz, back in the No.9 role, among those on target.

Though it was the simplest of finishes, the Germany international is often criticised for not taking those chances how the very best strikers do. His hold up play was again on show though as he helped the likes of Saka and Odegaard work their creative magic.

football.london says: "Maybe Arsenal do not need to sign a striker after all. Though Sporting were poor defensively, the Gunners' attacking players were electric and caused their opponents problems all evening.

"The importance of Odegaard in that cannot be overlooked with the Norway international, despite not directly contributing to any of the goals, putting in a truly superb display. That seemingly highlighted the need for a player similar to the club captain with his absence making the Gunners look far more disjointed.

"Gyokeres is an excellent striker but he may not be required at Emirates Stadium given how Arsenal can still create chances and score flurries of goals even without a natural striker in the starting XI."

Zubimendi latest

According to a report by CaughtOffside, Liverpool and Arsenal are plotting £50million offers for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the January transfer window. The Spain international has already rejected moves to both clubs but his stance could yet change.

Arne Slot attempted to make the defensive midfielder his first signing this past summer, but he opted to remain at Sociedad. With his boyhood club struggling for form as they sit tenth in the La Liga table, an exit in the winter window perhaps cannot be ruled out.

football.london says: "If the latest updates on rumours over Zubimendi are to be believed, it can certainly be considered a big play by Arsenal to try and sign him in January. With Manchester City faltering, their main two title rivals could be sensing an opportunity to add immediate quality to their squad for the run-in.

Given the context, Sociedad seem unlikely to sanction a mid-season move with it equally unclear if Zubimendi himself would accept given the loyalty he has already shown. Nonetheless, it seems evident that interest from Anfield and Emirates Stadium remains, with a battle for his signature feeling inevitable in the not too distant future."

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