Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are in need of January reinforcements (Picture: Getty)
Emmanuel Petit has listed three players who he believes Arsenal should target in January as they look to revive their Premier League title ambitions, including former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
Arsenal were top of the Premier League table on Christmas day but have slipped to fourth in the standings after back-to-back defeats as well as a loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.
Mikel Arteta’s side are currently enjoying their winter break before they return to league action against Crystal Palace next weekend.
But in the meantime, former Arsenal legend Petit wants to see his club active in the transfer window and has named Jean-Clair Todibo, Saint-Maximin and Michael Olise as three players he thinks the Gunners should go after.
‘Nice has the best defence so far in the league, and Todibo has now reached the national team, he plays in the central defence and he’s playing very well,’ Petit told DAZN Bet.
‘And I think he has improved a lot in the last two years. And with Saliba and the loan spell he had for Marseille, he came back strongly, and now we all know what kind of defender he is. It could be something very interesting for Arsenal.
‘You may think I’m crazy, but I think Allan Saint-Maximin. I watch the Saudi League every week, and the level is not that great. I’m sure the players are happy with the money, but it’s not very exciting and I think Saint-Maximin can be very good for Arsenal.
Allan Saint-Maximin joined Al-Ahli last summer (Getty)
‘I think Olise is doing very well at Crystal Palace so far and this may be his best season yet. He’s playing with confidence and he’s becoming a nightmare for defenders.
‘He’s only 22, and Arsenal are a very young team. He could fit perfectly and rotate with Bukayo Saka. I’d be very happy if Arsenal got him.’
Arteta has been tight-lipped so far about Arsenal’s hopes for the window but has moved to temper expectations due to financial fair play constraints.
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‘We are open in the transfer market but again the emphasis is on making the most out of the players that we have,’ the Spaniard said prior to Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round clash with Liverpool.
‘We will work together with the club to understand whether there are any possibilities and if we have any good options, but first of all focus on the players that we have.’
When pressed further on if the club may do no business at all, Arteta added: ‘That is a possibility.’
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‘It could be something very interesting for Arsenal.’