More negative developments loom for Arsenal fans as revelations indicate a potential setback in securing a January signing, attributed to a new FA rule resulting from Brexit.
Under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, the Arsenal team commenced the 2023/24 season impressively, building on the momentum from their unexpected second-place finish in the previous season.
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However, despite their promising start, the Gunners faced challenges during the festive period, leading to a decline to fourth place in the Premier League standings, trailing five points behind the league leaders, Liverpool.
Arsenal secured just one victory in their recent five league matches and suffered elimination from the FA Cup at home against Liverpool, failing to capitalize on significant opportunities in the initial half.
Scoring has become a challenge for Arteta’s team, managing only one goal from their last 60 attempts.
In addition, the North London club grapples with numerous injuries, especially in defensive positions.
The absence of recent addition Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu’s fitness challenges have forced players into unfamiliar positions in Arteta’s defensive lineup, creating a significant setback.
Considering these fitness concerns alongside the demanding midweek Champions League fixtures, it’s not surprising that Arsenal is actively seeking defensive reinforcements.
Reports suggest the Gunners are keeping a close eye on Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, but a crucial rule change may impede the possibility of signing the youngster in this transfer window.
Arteta is keenly interested in the Dutch defender due to his ability to play as both a centre-half and a left-back, highlighting his valuable versatility.
Unfortunately, securing the deal in this window appears improbable as Hato doesn’t reach the age of 18 until March, rendering him ineligible for a UK work permit until the summer transfer window.
This restriction stems from a recent FA rule implemented post-Brexit, requiring players to meet specific regulations for a ‘player trade’ to occur.
In theory, Hato could explore a move to another club in this window since the rule exclusively pertains to English clubs.
As a result, the promising defensive talent could potentially finalize a transfer to any of the numerous European giants he has been associated with in this window, and Arsenal would be unable to intervene to retain him.
