DONE DEAL: Arsenal confirmed the signing of £78m striker who netted 30goals this season,as Medical already completed and Jersey Number confirmed last night – Mikel Arteta new signing confirmed
Time is running out in the January transfer window with only a matter of days left for Arsenal to finalise their dealings.
The Gunners are not understood to be pursuing any last-minute additions before the window closes on Monday evening. That is because manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta think the existing Arsenal squad is good enough to achieve success this season.
Following a record-breaking summer spending spree on eight new signings, Arteta’s side hold a four-point lead in the Premier League after 23 fixtures and finished top of the Champions League’s league phase, claiming victory in all eight matches.
It has therefore been relatively quiet in N5 this month regarding transfers, apart from Oleksandr Zinchenko’s imminent move to Ajax for £1.3million before his contract was set to expire in the summer.
Teenager Ethan Nwaneri has also joined Marseille on loan until the end of the season, though there are worries about the arrangement given the uncertainty surrounding Roberto De Zerbi’s future with the French club.
Football.london now brings you two of the most recent developments concerning Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash away at Leeds United.
‘Messi-like’ Dowman signs new deal
Arteta has heaped praise on Arsenal sensation Max Dowman by drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi’s meteoric rise. Dowman, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday, has agreed terms for his first professional contract when he turns 17 in December of this year.
The teenage prodigy became the youngest player ever to play in the Champions League earlier this season and is now set to remain with his boyhood club, despite some interest from other clubs in the England Under-19s star.
Max Dowman signs for Arsenal with Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta and Arsenal Academy Manager Per Mertesacker at Sobha Realty Training Centre on January 30, 2026 in London Colney, England.
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Arteta heaped praise on teenager Max Dowman(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
When asked about how Dowman measures against other talents who have emerged from Arsenal’s Hale End academy, the usually grounded Arteta was glowing in his assessment of the youngster.
The Spaniard admitted: “Well, Max is certainly one of the best youngsters I have ever seen. What he has done with us, me personally, I haven’t seen before. Only with a guy that used to play in Barcelona (Messi) but maybe not even that.
“He has a certain charisma as well and personality. He doesn’t get overwhelmed, whether it’s by the situation or the stadium or the opposition and that’s a huge quality to have.
“The communication between us has been very, very productive over the years. It’s now down to him and us to build an amazing career.”
Arteta’s admission over Man City signings
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Marc Guehi during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Manchester, England.
The Gunners manager has also voiced his feelings after missing out on Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo to title rivals Manchester City earlier this month. Both players were reportedly on Arsenal’s radar, with Arteta understood to be interested in signing them in the summer transfer window.
But City moved more decisively than the north Londoners by wrapping up deals for the duo, with Semenyo brought in for £64m while Guehi arrived for £20m. That has not only strengthened Pep Guardiola’s side, with both players settling in well, but also struck a blow to the Gunners’ future transfer plans.
Speaking on Friday, Arteta recognised City’s relentless hunger for silverware by commenting on the two signings: “That is their business. I know what they’re going to do and what they’ve been doing over the last 10-15 years. So obviously not surprised. They want to win and they will do everything to win.”
