Arsenal looking to strengthen their attack with Bournemouth winger

20 January, 2023

Arsenal is well and truly ahead in the title chase, with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United a good distance away from them. The Gunners are currently eight points ahead at the halfway stage and pretty much all the teams that have led at this stage of the tournament, have gone on to win the title. Mikel Arteta does not want to be an exception and wishes to strengthen his side in the January window.

After completing the signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton, according to Athletic, the club are now keeping tabs on Jaidon Anthony from Bournemouth. The player is said to cost around £20 million and that is a valuation the owners are willing to meet having missed out on their prime target for this window, Mikhaylo Mudryk, who ended up joining London rivals Chelsea. 

Arsenal were left disgruntled after their main attacker Gabriel Jesus picked up an injury during national duty for Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2022. This left the club with limited attacking options, although they were boosted with the return of Emile Smith-Rowe from a long-term injury. Now, the onus for the club remains on strengthening their title credentials as much as they can. 

Anthony will be running out of contract with Bournemouth at the end of this season and is likely to move out of the club this summer with multiple European clubs showing interest. Bournemouth offered improved contracts to the player but with massive interest being shown by Leicester City, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, it will be tough to keep the player beyond this season.

Anthony also is one of the fittest players in the player, having played 45 of 46 matches in the Championship last year, scoring eight goals and assisting seven times helping his club secure a promotion. At 23, he has a lot of time to adapt to the Arteta way of playing.  Bournemouth’s top flight credentials are also set to be under a massive test, with the side heading closer towards the relegation zone after a poor run of results post the FIFA World Cup. 

The winter transfer window closes on January 31st.