Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta watches on during training.(Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal set to rival Man United and Spurs for £16.8m transfer amid Mikel Arteta warning

by · football.london

Arsenal are back in action when they make the trip to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. Mikel Arteta's side are looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League after failing to beat West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

However, the Gunners are going to be buoyed following their 7-1 rout of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Arteta's team ran riot at Old Trafford, with Martin Odegaard scoring a brace, while Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori also found the net at Philips Stadion.

And if Arsenal want to mount a late title charge, they are going to have to replicate similar performances in the Premier League during their remaining 11 matches. The Gunners sit 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, but boast a game-in-hand on Arne Slot's Reds, and there's still an outside chance they could win the top-flight title this season.

But it's clear the Gunners must beat United to stand any chance of winning the Premier League. Ahead of their trip to Manchester, football.london takes a look at the latest news and gossip from the Emirates Stadium;

Arsenal 'want' Fenerbahce talent

Arsenal are set to battle ManchesterUnited and Tottenham for the signing of Fenerbahce prospect Yusuf Akcicek, according to CaughtOffside. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a sensational rise at the Super Lig outfit and has played 14 times for them this season, although he was hooked off at half-time during Thursday's 3-1 defeat to Rangers.

Despite this, Akcicek's progress has put him on the radar of the likes of United, Arsenal and Tottenham who could end up battling out for hi signature. The versatile defender could be available for around £16.8million.

football.london says: Akcicek may be talented and go on to have a successful career, but another centre-back is the LAST thing Arsenal need right now. Although the Gunners could buy him for the future, they could do without using a sum of their budget on a defender and instead look to spend that on a new forward.

It makes the most amount of sense for Arsenal to use that additional £16.8million on them trying to sign Alexander Isak or Benjamin Sesko, even if it's just to beat a rival to signing either of them.

Arteta fires clear Man Utd warning

Mikel Arteta has warned his Arsenal players that they can't look back on Tuesday's gigantic win at PSV and must turn their focus to replicating a "great performance" against Manchester United.

"Yeah, obviously it was a great night for us, an important competition that we have a lot of hope on that, and the manner and the way we did it obviously lifted everybody," Arteta said. "That's the past, unfortunately, so it's about what we do today, the preparation for tomorrow, and try to replicate a great performance again on Sunday."

football.london says: It's important that the Gunners showcase as much attacking threat against United as they did in Eindhoven. They have been goal shy in the Premier League, scoring just once in their last two matches, and must be better in the final third at Old Trafford and Arteta is hoping they can be, too.


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