"Arsenal are pursuing a wonderkid midfielder likened to Pedri, as they secure the future of their engine room. The Gunners sit top of the Premier League and have won every Champions League fixture thus far without conceding but Arsenal arguably still have question marks over their creativity in the absence of Martin Odegaard and with their reliance on set pieces well-documented. With Mikel Arteta looking to the future, yet another Spanish starlet is in the crosshairs."
"Eberechi Eze has functioned as Arteta's no.10 of late, following spells in which Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri have both played there but each of them lack either the intensity off the ball or the natural rhythm that Odegaard offers in central midfield, with Eze a better fit on the left, Merino's best performances coming as a target man and Nwaneri's future potentially further forward, with Arteta even admitting than the Hale End graduate could be a false nine in the making."
Arsenal are targeting Spain under-21 midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza as a long-term creative option to strengthen midfield depth. The team leads the Premier League and has won all Champions League fixtures so far, yet lacks a direct like-for-like replacement for Martin Odegaard when he is absent. Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri have each filled the no.10 role at times, but none provide Odegaard's combination of off-the-ball intensity and natural rhythm. Mendoza has been likened to Pedri, reportedly carries a €20 million release clause, and faces competition from Manchester City, Real Madrid and Juventus. Mikel Arteta is planning for the future by scouting Spanish talent to secure the squad's creative engine.
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