Language Selection

Get healthy now with MedBeds!
Click here to book your session

Protect your whole family with Orgo-Life® Quantum MedBed Energy Technology® devices.

Advertising by Adpathway

Pole position: Arsenal now ahead of Tottenham in huge race for "elite" young forward

2 weeks ago 13

PROTECT YOUR DNA WITH QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY

Orgo-Life the new way to the future

Advertising by Adpathway

Published Sep 7, 2026, 12:40 PM GMT+1

Tom is a football journalist with over five years of experience, specialising in Premier League reporting, feature writing and transfer analysis, with particular expertise covering Liverpool and Everton.

His work has been featured in The Non-League Paper, Crawley Observer, Sussex Express and The Redmen TV, where he produced features, news and exclusive interviews across all levels of the game.

For Football FanCast, Tom has interviewed a number of respected figures from across football, including Ally McCoist, Philippe Senderos and Chris Waddle. Elsewhere, he has covered the National League South play-off final, Formula E's London E-Prix, Crawley Town and Brighton & Hove Albion's Under-21s.

Tom's expertise lies in analysing transfer developments, explaining what they mean for clubs and supporters, and producing in-depth features on the biggest stories in football. Through years of covering Liverpool and Everton, he has developed an extensive understanding of Merseyside football, both clubs' recruitment strategies and the issues that matter most to their supporters. He has also built strong relationships across the football industry that add valuable context to his reporting and analysis.

Tom also enjoys writing features on the broader challenges facing football, its clubs, players, governing bodies and, most importantly, supporters.

There's an extra flair to Arsenal this season. The golden tint of champions has reflected well against Mikel Arteta's side and a 2-1 victory over Chelsea only continued an early march towards a title defence.

Martin Odegaard's winner was particularly impressive. Gone were the set-pieces, arrived was the subtle Kai Havertz dummy followed by a thumping finish. It was the free-flowing move that so many have been desperate to witness at The Emirates. And this could just be the start.

Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring for Arsenal vs Chelsea

It's already been reported that Arsenal missed out on several key attacking targets in the summer, including Chelsea's goalscorer Morgan Rogers, and that makes the January window all the more interesting.

Arsenal's missed attacking targets

From

Position

Morgan Rogers	Aston Villa	Attacking midfielder
Bradley Barcola	PSG	Winger
Kenan Yildiz	Juventus	Winger
Eli Junior Kroupi	Bournemouth	Forward
Vinicius Jr	Real Madrid	Winger
Julian Alvarez	Atletico Madrid	Striker
Malick Fofana	Lyon	Winger
Alex Scott	Bournemouth	Central midfielder
Jeremy Monga	Leicester City	Winger

The Gunners reportedly had as many as 21 names on their summer shortlist, but struggled to get several key names over the line and failed to land an attacking signing for the rest of the summer following the early move for Christos Tzolis. This is despite targeting Rogers, Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool, Vinicius Junior, Julian Alvarez and many others.

That will be the top priority in north London when the January window swings open alongside the chance to welcome attacking target Mohamed Kader Maite.

Arsenal readying January move to sign Meite

Andrea Berta is already preparing for the winter window. Football FanCast understands that Arsenal are now readying a move to sign Meite from Al-Hilal during the January transfer window.

The Premier League champions already held talks with the forward's representatives during the summer and have maintained that contact in preparing for the new year.

Meite, himself, was keen on a return to Europe in the summer, only for Al-Hilal to block any of his attempts to leave. New sporting director Richard Hughes, formerly of Liverpool, is now set to make a decision about the 18-year-old's long-term future at the Saudi Pro League club.

It wouldn't just be a blow for Al-Hilal if Meite left for Arsenal, either. Tottenham are also interested and have made contact with the player's agents, seeing him as a top target to freshen up their ageing forward line. The Lilywhites didn't hesitate to spend big in the summer, but are still keen to add a young forward and have also made contact for Argentinian talent Leonel Flores.

Sources understand it is the Gunners who are currently in pole position for Meite, but whether that will be enough to sign the 6 foot 4 attacker, who has scored seven goals in 44 senior appearances for Al-Hilal and Stade Rennais, remains to be seen.

A player with "elite" potential, according to scout Jacek Kulig, Meite is certainly one to watch with several teams set to join a huge transfer race if he becomes available.

Read Entire Article