Champions League draw adds to Arsenal's reasons to be cheerful

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Favourable Champions League draw adds to Arsenal’s reasons to be cheerful… Mikel Arteta isn’t getting carried away, but his side’s rapid progression puts special season on the cards

  • CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW: Arsenal handed promising draw for round of 16 
  • Arsenal are flying high, but it seems unlikely they will splash out in January 
  • Mikel Arteta booked again, other bosses getting yellows. If you are going to eradicate these ills, KEEP DOING IT, REFS! Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

There was a peaceful calm at Arsenal HQ on Monday morning, a serenity in contrast to the relentless ferocity showcased against Brighton less than 24 hours earlier.

The ruthless manner in which they dispatched the Seagulls, a team used to dominating games, deserved high praise. Roberto De Zerbi called Arsenal the best team in the Premier League.

They certainly are at the moment – Sunday’s 2-0 win firing the Gunners to the top of the table. Declan Rice is the most complete defensive midfielder in Europe. Kai Havertz has shrugged off the early-season negativity to score four goals in seven games.

Rice and Havertz are symbolic of Arsenal 2.0 under Mikel Arteta. Both over 6ft, both physical in their approach. Arteta felt his side’s title challenge fell short last season because of a lack of muscle. That is no longer the case.

Arteta isn’t getting carried away, of course – though Monday’s news of a favourable Champions League last 16 draw against FC Porto would have enhanced his current sense of satisfaction.

Arsenal went top of the Premier League with their dominant 2-0 win against Brighton

Mikel Arteta won’t be getting complacent, but his side could pull off a really special season

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A quarter-final place beckons. For Arsenal, a club who haven’t featured in European football’s elite competition since 2017, it underlines their rapid progression. This could be a special season for them but can they maintain a double-pronged assault on two of the biggest prizes in football?

The answer to that question is yes – but it will be tricky. And, more pertinently, expensive. The Gunners are open to strengthening their squad in January, but their finances and commitment to staying within FFP guidelines will make that difficult.

Their interest in centre forward Ivan Toney is no secret – but splashing around £80million on the Brentford striker just months after spending close to £200m on Havertz, Rice, Jurrien Timber and David Raya is likely to be too tall an order. 

That’s not to say another marquee signing is out of reach, but whether they add to their squad is likely to depend on recouping money from outgoings.

Mail Sport understands that Arsenal are currently telling prospective buyers that they aren’t open for business, but there is a feeling among Premier League clubs that their stance is more posturing rather than a hard and fast rule.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW 

FC Porto v Arsenal

  • First leg: Wednesday February 21
  • Second leg: Tuesday March 12 

Napoli v Barcelona

  • First leg: Wendesday 21 February
  • Second leg: Tuesday March 12 

Paris St-Germain v Real Sociedad

  • First leg: Wednesday February 14
  • Second leg: Tuesday March 5 

Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid

  • First leg: Tuesday 20 February
  • Second leg: Wednesday March 13 

PSV Eindhoven v Borussia Dortmund

  • First leg: Tuesday February 20
  • Second leg: Wednesday March 13 

Lazio v Bayern Munich

  • First leg: Wednesday February 14
  • Second leg: Tuesday March 5 

FC Copenhagen v Manchester City

  • First leg: Tuesday February 13
  • Second leg: Wednesday March 6 

RB Leipzig v Real Madrid

  • First leg: Tuesday February 13
  • Second leg: Wednesday March 6 

Among the players attracting interest is Eddie Nketiah, who, given his status as an academy product, would be registered as pure profit in terms of FFP accountancy. 

However, the club have already knocked back at least one enquiry from a top-flight side ahead of the transfer window for Nketiah.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is another being courted, but Arsenal would prefer the England international to stay until at least the end of the season. 

With a place in Gareth Southgate’s European Championship squad at stake, Ramsdale knows another five months spent on the bench after losing his No 1 spot to Raya could cost him his seat on the plane to Germany. But unless Ramsdale is willing to agitate, Arsenal would rather park that situation until the summer.

There is a recognition that signing a goalscorer next month could make a difference in their quest for glory – but signing strikers is easier in the summer.

Toney isn’t the only striker being monitored. Victor Osimhen, who last week signed a new contract at Napoli with a £112m release clause, is among those being coveted. Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is another.

But there is a view at Arsenal that any available funds in January would be better spent on centre midfield and defence. 

January is an interesting window for Aaron Ramsdale, given he is harbouring England hopes

Arsenal are admirers of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, but a January move for him feels unlikely

The highly-anticipated return to fitness of Thomas Partey would reduce the necessity to sign a midfielder next month, but the injury problems that have plagued the 30-year-old since his arrival in 2020 have cast doubt over his long-term future. Arsenal are already planning for life without Partey, whose contract expires in 18 months.

Aston Villa midfielders Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey are highly rated by recruitment staff. Fulham’s Joao Palhinha is another who is under consideration, but at 28 his profile doesn’t fit the club’s recruitment strategy. Everton’s Amadou Onana is being watched closely.

There is no doubting Partey’s brilliance, his ability to carry and receive the ball in tight spaces is crucial to Arteta’s ethos.

 But his lack of availability – he has played five times this season – has become a source of frustration, although he may be back before the end of the year.

Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is making pleasing progress from a calf problem in the hope that he can play before being released to Japan for the Asia Cup next month. Fabio Vieira is out after groin surgery, Jorginho sustained a foot issue in training on Friday, and Timber is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered on the opening day of the season.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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On top of that, illness has swept through the Arsenal camp in recent days, a headache that nearly prevented Arteta from selecting Rice for the win over Brighton.

So Arteta and his backroom team will have to spin a few plates – and all without a recognised head of medicine after Gary O’Driscoll’s departure for Manchester United earlier this season. The club are closing in on O’Driscoll’s replacement and are at the shortlist stage of the process. In the meantime, Arteta will have to tread carefully.

He’ll manage injury-affected members of his squad through training – Ben White, for example. 

But there will be an opportunity for players to rest and recuperate from next month. As things stand, Arsenal only have three games scheduled in January – a timetable that staff have highlighted as a significant boost ahead of their tilt at history.


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