Arteta identifies the £48m January signing he needs to revive Arsenal’s season

The Gunners thought they had secured a late victory through Bukayo Saka, but VAR ruled out the goal, showing that Gabriel Martinelli was offside in the build-up.

This result leaves Arsenal third in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand after their Merseyside derby against Everton was postponed on Saturday.

At the same point last season, Arsenal had 36 points after 15 games, compared to 29 points this term, indicating a notable decline in recent weeks.

Arteta is looking to address this by securing a new signing in the attacking department, with the transfer window opening on New Year’s Day.

According to Arsenal journalist Charles Watts, the Gunners are considering a move for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, as Arteta believes they lack depth in that area of the pitch.

Saka and Martinelli have been pivotal for Arsenal in recent seasons, while Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling can play out wide. However, Arsenal lacks permanent competition for either player.

Williams is said to have a release clause of £48 million, and some Arsenal players may have observed his skills firsthand during Spain’s Euro 2024 final win over England.

His performances in the summer earned him a nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

The 22-year-old finished in 15th place, receiving 73 votes and ranking above Arsenal stars Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Saliba, and Saka in the final standings.