Mikel Arteta has been left completely blown away by a “silky” forward, with the manager now personally requesting Arsenal sign him in the January transfer window.
Arteta keen on new forward amid injury woes
Yet again, the Gunners have been plagued by injuries this season, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres all spending time on the sidelines already.
With Gyokeres only recently returning from a muscle injury, Mikel Merino was given the nod at striker against Chelsea on Sunday, and the Spaniard repaid Arteta for his faith in him, scoring the equalising goal in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Arteta certainly isn’t short on top-quality attacking options, having spent big during the summer, but the sheer number of injuries he has already been forced to contend with may be a concern for the manager, who will be determined for nothing to derail his side’s Premier League title push.
As such, the manager has personally requested the signing of Villarreal forward Alberto Moleiro for the January transfer window, according to a report from Spain, which states the 43-year-old has been left completely blown away by his performances since moving to Villarreal.
A number of Europe’s top clubs have set their sights on Moleiro, but the Gunners are now the side most determined to get a deal done, with Arteta of the belief he would be a perfect fit for his system.
Arteta values the forward’s versatility, and a deal could be relatively affordable, with the Spanish club setting an asking price of over €30m (£26m).
"Silky" Moleiro tearing it up in La Liga
The Spaniard has already matched his La Liga goal tally from the 2024-25 campaign, having found the back of the net six times in 14 outings this season, while also providing two assists.
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Lauded as “silky” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Villarreal star is also capable of playing on both wings and through attacking midfield, making him a versatile option for Arteta, although scout Ben Mattinson has suggested he could flourish in a slightly deeper midfield role.
Arsenal are looking to compete on all fronts this season, with a Premier League and Champions League double potentially on the cards, considering they are currently top of both.
As such, it would be a savvy move to bring in some additional strength in depth during the January window, and Moleiro’s versatility, coupled with the low asking price, means he could be the ideal addition to the squad.
