BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal respond quickly to Martin Odegaard’s injury as Mikel Arteta considers a surprise £84 million transfer.
Arsenal have swiftly taken action to address a potential midfield crisis ahead of the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. Manager Mikel Arteta could face the challenge of fielding a team without key midfielders Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard.
Mikel Merino sustained a shoulder injury during his first training session at London Colney after joining from Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, Declan Rice received a second yellow card in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton just before the international break, leaving him suspended for the crucial derby.
Adding to Arteta’s woes, Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle sprain during a Nations League match against Austria on Monday night. While contesting possession with Christoph Baumgartner, the 25-year-old midfielder appeared to twist his ankle. His availability for the derby remains uncertain until the results of his scan are released.
With the transfer window closed, Arsenal’s options to bolster their squad before January are limited to free agents. Nevertheless, the Gunners are already preparing for their first signing of the upcoming window, showing they are planning ahead despite the current restrictions.
According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are ‘seriously interested’ in Valencia’s 21-year-old midfielder Javi Guerra. He was previously linked with Atletico Madrid during the summer before Diego Simeone opted for Conor Gallagher instead.
The report also mentions that Aston Villa are tracking the Spain Under-21 international, who has a hefty €100 million (£84.3 million) release clause in his contract at Valencia, expiring in June 2027. Guerra has appeared four times in La Liga this season, though his last two appearances were brief substitute cameos.
CaughtOffside further reports that Valencia may consider selling Guerra for less than €30 million (£25.3 million) in the near future, despite his significant release clause. Valencia’s sporting director, Miguel Angel Corona, previously explained why Guerra’s move to Atletico Madrid fell through.
Corona stated: “Atlético de Madrid replied that they were trying to pull out of the Gallagher transaction with Chelsea, and if that didn’t happen, they were not going to be able to do the deal for Javi Guerra. This was the first time we were made aware of that, so we decided to bow out because this condition was not part of the initial discussion, despite numerous calls, WhatsApps, emails, legal counsel, and contract terms. To protect Javi, we withdrew.”
Guerra was also linked to Manchester United last year until Valencia issued a hands-off warning. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Corona emphasized the club’s commitment to Guerra’s development, saying: “We are fully aware of Javi’s enormous potential and his ability to perform at a high level. That’s why we’ve recently promoted him to the first team. Selling him is not part of our plans; instead, we aim to nurture his talent under Ruben Baraja and build a Valencia team around players like him.”
Corona expressed confidence in Guerra’s abilities, highlighting the club’s long-standing belief in his potential: “Javi’s emergence has not surprised us. We’ve known his capabilities and have guided him from youth level to the first team. While we must be cautious with our assessments given his young age, his daily efforts will ultimately determine his future success.”