Arsenal continues to secure critical results, maintaining their position at the pinnacle of the Premier League table. Since their defeat to Aston Villa in early December, Mikel Arteta’s squad has won three consecutive league matches, though they have relied heavily on defensive solidity, scoring only five goals, as they press Manchester City and other rivals.
Mikel Arteta`s side maintains strong league form.
Recent performances have highlighted the importance of key players like Declan Rice, who capably filled in as a makeshift full-back, and goalkeeper David Raya. Raya, the former Brentford stopper, was instrumental against Brighton, with Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer hailing one of his fingertip saves as among the best of the season. Despite the current stability, Arteta is known to be seeking reinforcements during the January transfer window.
Even as reports suggest Antoine Semenyo is headed for the Etihad over the Emirates, Arsenal remains active in the transfer market, scouting future talent. The North London club has reportedly engaged in talks with Rennes prospect Jérémy Jacquet regarding a possible January move, alongside eyeing Lille midfield sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi for a summer switch.
Furthermore, Arteta’s attention has turned to AC Milan’s highly promising young left-back, Davide Bartesaghi. According to *Caught Offside*, the Gunners are monitoring the Italian breakout talent, who is also attracting interest from European giants Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Ayyoub Bouaddi is another promising talent linked with a potential summer move to the Emirates.
The versatile Bartesaghi is reportedly on Arsenal’s shortlist of left-back targets, with a potential price tag hovering around the £39 million mark. While a mid-season transfer is viewed as improbable, the long-term interest from Arsenal will be an unsettling development for Lewis-Skelly.
The potential arrival of an expensive young defender like Bartesaghi poses a direct threat to Arsenal academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 19-year-old, once lauded as a “future captain” by some insiders, has experienced a rapid decline in first-team opportunities, managing only one Premier League start this campaign.
That solitary start came against Brighton, and Lewis-Skelly’s performance in the number 49 jersey was underwhelming, yielding zero tackles won and zero key passes. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that Arteta is actively searching for quality reinforcements at left-back, especially as Bartesaghi thrives in Milan while Lewis-Skelly struggles for relevance.
Lewis-Skelly’s career path at Arsenal may be impacted by new signings.
Journalist Matt Santangelo recently noted that the lively number 33 has been “making the most of his opportunities” this season at San Siro. Bartesaghi, playing primarily from a left-wing back position, has even scored two goals against Sassuolo. Furthermore, the 6-foot-5 defender has shown defensive aptitude, winning three duels in a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Lazio in November.
Bartesaghi has accumulated five clean sheets across his 10 Serie A starts, establishing himself as a consistent first-team presence. A comparison of their league statistics per 90 minutes highlights the gulf in recent output:
| Bartesaghi vs Lewis-Skelly (League Stats – per 90 mins) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Bartesaghi | Lewis-Skelly |
| Games played | 12 | 12 |
| Games started | 10 | 1 |
| Goals scored | 2 | 0 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 |
| Touches* | 48.8 | 17.8 |
| Accurate passes* | 23.9 (86%) | 11.7 (90%) |
| Key passes* | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Big chances created | 2 | 0 |
| Total duels won* | 3.0 | 1.1 |
| Clean sheets | 5 | 0 |
| Stats by Sofascore | ||
Bartesaghi has certainly justified the hype, having been previously described as an “incredible” future asset and a “golden boy” by former San Siro scout Mauro Bianchessi. The primary concern remains his ability to swiftly adapt to the intensity of the English game and prove a more reliable stand-in than Lewis-Skelly.
However, the 19-year-old AC Milan star has repeatedly demonstrated his resilience, overcoming challenges in the senior team. His involvement and solid performances in highly contested matches suggest he possesses the temperament required for a big move, putting significant pressure on Lewis-Skelly to quickly reverse his regression at his boyhood club.
Rupert Fawcett
