BREAKING: Edu targeting Onana transfer as Arteta aims to create Arsenal super team

Edu targets £33m ‘next Patrick Vieira’ transfer as Mikel Arteta aims for Arsenal super team
Latest Arsenal transfer news as Edu and Mikel Arteta set their sights on Everton midfielder Amadou Onana

Everton’s Amadou Onana pictured during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Everton FC at Turf Moor on December 16, 2023 in Burnley, England.
Arsenal could finally sign the new Patric Vieira with Edu and Mikel Arteta eyeing a transfer for Everton’s Amadou Onana (Image: (Photo by Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images))

Mikel Arteta and Edu are targeting one transfer which could create Arsenal super team in the battle for supremacy in England with Manchester City. The summer signing of Declan Rice for £105million, a player that Pep Guardiola also wanted at Etihad Stadium, was a huge statement of intent with the Gunners also welcoming Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya to the club.

Rice has been consistently superb since his switch from West Ham mostly because of his defensive impact although he has also scored crucial goals against Manchester United, Chelsea and Luton Town. Arsenal’s midfield three of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard was crucial to last season’s success however the latter is the only one that still features frequently under Arteta.

Xhaka completed a permanent move to Bayer Leverkusen while Partey has been plagued by injuries which has seen Rice and Havertz come into the midfield trio. Building an understanding between the three took some time with Havertz and Odegaard struggling for form, however since the latter has returned from injury, both have been impressive.

Despite this, finding a Partey replacement remains a priority over the upcoming transfer windows, despite his positive injury update earlier this week. Exactly what position that means would be filled with another body is unclear as Partey was mostly playing at right-back prior to his injury issues.

Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu also being out, with the latter expected to be back in time to play in the Asia Cup for Japan, makes the priority to sign a defender. Despite this, there appears to be a three-man midfield shortlist of Amadou Onana, Joao Palhinha and Martin Zubimendi with one of those compared to Patrick Vieira by his former manager.

“In Belgium we are enthusiastic,” he told Sky Sports in 2022 following his £33million transfer to Everton. “Amadou has already played in Germany and in France. Lille also paid a large sum for him – so he knows how to deal with the pressure. His intensity, how he can put pressure, how easily he gets into the sixteen: he looks like a young Patrick Vieira in how to float the ball.”

READ MORE: Arsenal sent Victor Osimhen proof as Mikel Arteta considers Gabriel Jesus upgrade

READ MORE: Thomas Partey, Jorginho – Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool clash

Adding the 6ft3ins midfielder to an Arsenal team that already consists of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Rice would likely lead to Arsenal very rarely conceding from set-pieces, while also adding another attacking weapon to their repertoire for Nicolas Jover to utilise.

The 22-year-old has struggled with a calf injury in recent weeks but he returned to the starting XI for last Saturday’s clash against Burnley. Onana marked his first start since early November with a headed goal after rising highest to nod home a Dwight McNeil corner, highlighting one of his best traits.

Edu targets £33m ‘next Patrick Vieira’ transfer as Mikel Arteta aims for Arsenal super team
Latest Arsenal transfer news as Edu and Mikel Arteta set their sights on Everton midfielder Amadou Onana

Everton’s Amadou Onana pictured during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Everton FC at Turf Moor on December 16, 2023 in Burnley, England.
Arsenal could finally sign the new Patric Vieira with Edu and Mikel Arteta eyeing a transfer for Everton’s Amadou Onana (Image: (Photo by Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images))

Mikel Arteta and Edu are targeting one transfer which could create Arsenal super team in the battle for supremacy in England with Manchester City. The summer signing of Declan Rice for £105million, a player that Pep Guardiola also wanted at Etihad Stadium, was a huge statement of intent with the Gunners also welcoming Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya to the club.

Rice has been consistently superb since his switch from West Ham mostly because of his defensive impact although he has also scored crucial goals against Manchester United, Chelsea and Luton Town. Arsenal’s midfield three of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard was crucial to last season’s success however the latter is the only one that still features frequently under Arteta.

Xhaka completed a permanent move to Bayer Leverkusen while Partey has been plagued by injuries which has seen Rice and Havertz come into the midfield trio. Building an understanding between the three took some time with Havertz and Odegaard struggling for form, however since the latter has returned from injury, both have been impressive.

Despite this, finding a Partey replacement remains a priority over the upcoming transfer windows, despite his positive injury update earlier this week. Exactly what position that means would be filled with another body is unclear as Partey was mostly playing at right-back prior to his injury issues.

Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu also being out, with the latter expected to be back in time to play in the Asia Cup for Japan, makes the priority to sign a defender. Despite this, there appears to be a three-man midfield shortlist of Amadou Onana, Joao Palhinha and Martin Zubimendi with one of those compared to Patrick Vieira by his former manager.

“In Belgium we are enthusiastic,” he told Sky Sports in 2022 following his £33million transfer to Everton. “Amadou has already played in Germany and in France. Lille also paid a large sum for him – so he knows how to deal with the pressure. His intensity, how he can put pressure, how easily he gets into the sixteen: he looks like a young Patrick Vieira in how to float the ball.”

READ MORE: Arsenal sent Victor Osimhen proof as Mikel Arteta considers Gabriel Jesus upgrade

READ MORE: Thomas Partey, Jorginho – Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool clash

Adding the 6ft3ins midfielder to an Arsenal team that already consists of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Rice would likely lead to Arsenal very rarely conceding from set-pieces, while also adding another attacking weapon to their repertoire for Nicolas Jover to utilise.

The 22-year-old has struggled with a calf injury in recent weeks but he returned to the starting XI for last Saturday’s clash against Burnley. Onana marked his first start since early November with a headed goal after rising highest to nod home a Dwight McNeil corner, highlighting one of his best traits.