Mikel Arteta could lose “very important” Arsenal player after January transfer twist

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could now lose a “very important” member of his Gunners squad in January as his side battle for the Premier League title.

The Gunners have suffered various injury problems of late, with Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres all racing to be fit for the North London derby on November 23, but Gabriel Jesus will have to wait longer for his first game back despite returning to training last week.

This has left Arsenal very short of attacking options in the final third, but somehow, they’ve still managed to climb four points clear at the top of the table after a very impressive unbeaten run which stretches all the way back to September.

Arteta’s side even went eight straight games without conceding a single goal in all competitions before Dan Ballard ended the run in a 2-2 draw with Sunderland last weekend.

However, the fact remains — Arsenal are yet to taste defeat at all since their 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in August.

It is also important to remember that Sunderland are no pushovers, having made the best start of any newly-promoted side since Hull City in 2008/2009.

Regis Le Bris’ men remain unbeaten at their Stadium of Light fortress, and depending on if you’re ‘glass half full’ or ‘glass half empty’ kind of person, you could see the draw up north as a point gained rather than two points lost. Of course, the manner of Arsenal’s draw, having conceded a last-gasp equaliser via Brian Brobbey’s acrobatic effort, means it will feel more like the latter to most.

In any case, with Gyokeres, Havertz, Martinelli and Madueke all pushing to be back for their crucial clash against Tottenham, things are still looking very rosy at the Emirates Stadium.

Their outstanding defence has put them in excellent stead to go on and win a first Premier League title in 22 years, with full-backs Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori standing out as two of Arsenal’s players of the season thus far.

So much so, that there’s been little room for Hale End academy sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly in the starting eleven.

Myles Lewis-Skelly could now leave Arsenal in January

The 19-year-old, who enjoyed a sensational breakthrough campaign at Arsenal last term, has just put pen to paper on a five-year contract — but it is now believed he could yet to depart the club in January due to a lack of game time.

That is according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, who shared what England boss Thomas Tuchel told Lewis-Skelly after omitting him from the latest England squad.

Dorsett goes on to explain that, while Arteta’s side don’t want to sell and expect him to get more minutes, not to mention the fact he’s just signed an extension, the “reality” is that Lewis-Skelly is probably Arsenal’s third-choice left-back behind Calafiori and Piero Hincapie.

He also explains, if Arsenal were to consider selling yet another academy graduate, 100 per cent of his transfer fee would go down as pure profit in the eyes of PSR — making the prospect of his exit fairly appealing in the long-term.

Dorsett also says that Arteta views him as a “very important” member of the team despite his lack of match action, but insists Lewis-Skelly is “one to watch” in January and a “big offer” could get Andrea Berta thinking twice.

The English sensation had battled his way into Tuchel’s plans thanks to his stellar upward trajectory at Arsenal. However, the form of Calafiori and arrival of Hincapie means he is no longer a Premier League first choice, and with the World Cup looming, Lewis-Skelly could have a key decision to make.