Arteta faces Guardiola moment after transfer decision backfired on Man City boss
Mikel Arteta could soon find himself at a transfer crossroads amid interest in Arsenal academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe from Newcastle.
Smith Rowe, 23, had established himself as a key figure in Arteta's side prior to the 2022/23 campaign, where he struggled to reclaim a starting spot following a troublesome groin injury. The Hale End graduate has been eased back into action this term after making just 12 Premier League appearances last year.
While Smith Rowe may currently be on the periphery at the Emirates, his prodigious talent has attracted admirers from elsewhere. The versatile attacking midfielder stayed put after being linked with a move in the summer, but Newcastle have designs on testing Arsenal's resolve once the transfer window reopens in January.
A new report from The Northern Echo outlines that Smith Rowe has emerged as a transfer target for Newcastle, although the Magpies would have to 'get inventive' to fund a deal for the £50million-rated midfielder.
However, with Newcastle now back amongst the Premier League's elite - and the Champions League - after finishing third last season, Arteta will have to think long and hard over whether or not it would be wise to allow Smith Rowe to join a team that can now be considered a rival.
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Arsenal were on the better end of a similar situation last summer, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola agreeing to sell both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to the Gunners. That move backfired, though, with the Londoners running City close in the title race.
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Emile Smith Rowe has emerged as a transfer target for Newcastle (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)That won't be lost on Arteta, who has already stressed that Smith Rowe will get plenty of chances in the Arsenal first-team this season. The Spaniard has aspirations of going one further in the title race this year and strengthening a direct rival could potentially jeopardise Arsenal's own chances of claiming the Premier League crown.
With January still over two-and-a-half months away, Arteta has plenty of time to ponder over a decision. As the report outlines, it remains to be seen whether or not Newcastle will be able to find the cash to fund a deal for Smith Rowe, anyway.
Arteta hinted that he remains a big fan of Smith Rowe before the Gunners' Carabao Cup triumph over Brentford last month. He said: "There's been many reasons why he hasn't started a match.
"He was out for a long, long time. He had a sequence of matches that he played with the national team, then he came in and didn't participate. In the last two matches he's played more minutes and tomorrow he will have a big chance to show that he can play at this level and be a really important player for us."
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