Arsenal had a quiet winter transfer deadline day with respect to their first team.
Mikel Arteta wanted a new midfielder on the final day of the window after Mikel Merino’s injury, but no move materialised in the end.
Arsenal made no first-team additions in the January transfer window, but they strengthened their academy with new names.
One of them was Evan Mooney from St Mirren.
Name three changes you’d like to see happen in Arsenal’s academy
Loans, U21 pathways, signings?
St. Mirren manager jokes he wanted Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes in a swap deal for Evan Mooney
Arsenal were really keen to sign a new striker for their academy on transfer deadline day.
The Gunners tabled a bid to sign Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers, but that was rejected. He is now likely to be an option in the summer on a free transfer.
Arsenal also held talks to sign James Wilson from Hearts, but they changed their mind. He has joined Tottenham Hotspur instead.
In the end, the Gunners completed the deal to land Mooney, and his manager at St Mirren, Stephen Robinson, is delighted for him. However, he joked that he tried to pull off a swap deal on deadline day.
He said in a press conference, as per PLZ Soccer: “A terrific move for Evan.
“I have to give Keith Lasley (St Mirren CEO) a special mention as well.
“I think he’s negotiated an incredible deal for the football club because the initial offer was to take him on loan with a view to a permanent.
“I was looking for Gabriel (Magalhaes) in return because he is a first-team player for us. I was hoping we would get Gabriel, but it didn’t quite materialise.”
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Arsenal confirm when Evan Mooney will make his debut
Mooney made his move to Arsenal official on deadline day, and he was joined by fellow youngster Jaden Dixon, who joined the Gunners from Stoke City.
Both players reported for training at the Sobha Realty Training Centre with their new U21 teammates, and they were put through their paces.
Arsenal’s official website released a few pictures of the two new arrivals in training, and they also shed some light on their immediate future.
The Gunners have confirmed that both Mooney and Dixon will make their debuts against the Everton U21s at the Mangata Developments Stadium on Friday.
It will be interesting to see how they fare.
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