Mikel Arteta admits ‘difficult’ blow as Arsenal target £30m defender’s transfer

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A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta opens up on Thomas Partey’s
injury and the Gunners target a transfer for star AC Milan centre-half Fikayo Tomori.

Kieran Tierney rejects a recall to Arsenal from Real Sociedad

Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney has rejected a potential recall to Arsenal from his loan spell at Real Sociedad. He is determined to spend a full season in Spain despite the possibility of a return to north London. The 26-year-old has zero interest in ending his one-year move early.

Tierney joined the Basque side on loan from the Gunners last August after falling out of boss Arteta’s side. Oleksandr Zinchenko fast emerged as Arteta’s clear No1 left-back after joining from Manchester City in July 2022. Tierney only started six of his 27 Premier League games.

But Zinchenko has struggled for form in recent weeks and Arsenal lost Takehiro Tomiyasu to a calf injury. Jurrien Timber also remains out with the ACL injury he sustained in August. So, the potential of Arsenal recalling Tierney has grown. But he does not want to return just yet.

Tierney has told Noticias de Gipuzkoa. “Several people have already asked me if I was going to return to Arsenal now and the answer is no. I’m going to stay here, for sure.

“The decision [about staying for longer] is not mine. But the only thing I can say is that I love playing for Real. And I’m enjoying it very much.”

Read more about what Tierney has had to say on a recall to Arsenal, here.

Arsenal target Fikayo Tomori’s January transfer from AC Milan

Arsenal have expressed an interest in the transfer of Tomori after coach Arteta identified the AC Milan defender as a potential target. That is according to Football Transfers, which notes that the Gunners are monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation closely as Arteta eyes defenders.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have so far only shown initial interest in the centre-half’s return to the Premier League. Tomori joined AC Milan in a £25m, plus £5m in add-ons, switch from Chelsea back in June 2021. He had also been on loan at San Siro since that January window.

AC Milan are reluctant to let Tomori leave in January given his importance to coach Stefano Pioli. The five-cap England international is also currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. It has sidelined the Canada-born brute since the end of 2023 after 22 appearances this term.

Should Arsenal decide to advance their interest, AC Milan will be under no pressure to grant Tomori a transfer. He is under contract until June 2027 after agreeing an extension in August 2022. The defender’s injury could also be a huge issue with Tomori likely out until February.

Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Tomori’s transfer from AC Milan, here.

Mikel Arteta admits Thomas Partey’s injury ruined Arsenal’s plans

Arteta admits the Arsenal boss is frustrated after losing Partey for much of the season so far through injury. The 30-year-old has only featured in four of their 20 Premier League fixtures this term. He is also unlikely to return until at some point in February with his current gripe.

Partey started each of Arsenal’s opening three fixtures this term at right-back before picking up a groin injury. He would then only return for a 15-minute cameo against Manchester City in October. The Ghana midfielder has been absent since with Partey nursing a thigh injury.

Ghana and Arsenal have also agreed for Partey to sit out AFCON after failing to return from a procedure on his thigh injury. But his very limited involvement at the Emirates still frustrates Arteta, having had big plans for the 45-cap international to help Arsenal be ‘unpredictable’.

“It was a huge blow losing Thomas,” Arteta said, via The Telegraph. The coach added: “We had other plans with him to become very versatile and unpredictable in our way of playing.

“We have not had [Partey and Timber] and that is difficult. We have them in the building, which is a joy. But we have not had them on the field as much as we wanted.”

Read more about what Arsenal coach Arteta has had to say about Partey’s injury, here.