Fabrizio Romano says that Arsenal are eyeing up a potential “bargain” move for one player in a strikingly similar move to one of Mikel Arteta’s current stars.
Arsenal host Brentford in the Premier League after Chelsea draw
The Gunners’ remarkable unbeaten run in all competitions, which stretches all the way back to August, continued with a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Chelsea on Sunday.
Arsenal are now 17 games without a loss since tasting their only defeat of the campaign against Liverpool at Anfield, and given their plethora of attacking injuries already this season, it is testament to the north Londoners’ incredible solidity.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal recovered from conceding Trevoh Chalobah’s near-post header shortly after halftime, with Mikel Merino leveling proceedings just before the hour mark when he nodded home Bukayo Saka’s excellent delivery.
The Spanish midfielder, who’s excelled in a makeshift striker role, continues his very impressive calendar year and is now up to 20 goals in 2025.
However, despite playing almost an hour with ten men, Enzo Maresca’s Blues defended resolutely, limiting Arsenal to just eight shots – their lowest total in any Premier League fixture this season.
Arsenal were also without both of their first-choice centre-backs, William Saliba and Gabriel, for only the second time in their last 162 matches.
Saliba suffered a training ground injury in the build up to Chelsea, meaning Arteta was forced to partner summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie for the first time in west London.
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Unfortunately for Arteta, Saliba remains an injury doubt for their clash against Brentford on Wednesday, but the manager says he is just days away from returning in better news.
Arsenal are seeking to extend their perfect six-game winning streak across all competitions at the Emirates, against a Bees side who are seriously struggling for away form with just one win on the road all season.
Away from the pitch, sporting director Andrea Berta continues plans to bolster Arteta’s squad.
Arsenal eyeing 'bargain' move for Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza
Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, who’s already been compared to Sergio Busquets and Pedri, is seriously interesting Berta and co as a potential rising star in La Liga.
The 20-year-old is widely reported to be a target for Arsenal, and Romano has shared his own update on the matter — confirming their links.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano says that Berta is eyeing a ‘bargain’ Arsenal move for Mendoza, and it would represent a pretty similar deal to Mosquera.
The latter has justified every penny of his £13 million transfer fee from Valencia so far, with Mendoza coming as another potentially unmissable opportunity considering his £17.5 million release clause.
Mendoza helped Elche secure promotion back to La Liga last term and has impressed with 11 appearances and two goals in all competitions so far this term.
Arteta is believed to be personally keen on the player too, so this could be one to watch for 2026.