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How Arsenal could line up after Upamecano, Guimaraes and Rabiot transfers
Arsenal have been strongly linked with Dayot Upamecano, Bruno Guimaraes and Adrien Rabiot ahead of the January transfer window.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to add to his squad when the transfer window reopens in the New Year. And Dayot Upamecano, Bruno Guimaraes and Adrien Rabiot have all emerged as potential targets for the Spaniard.
Arteta has inherited a huge job at Arsenal, with the Gunners enduring a wretched campaign so far.
They enter 2020 sitting 12th in the Premier League table, having won just five of their first 20 matches so far.
Unai Emery paid the price for Arsenal’s torrid start to the campaign, with the Gunners board axing the Spaniard at the end of November.
And Arteta is now the man charged with the task of turning their season around. In an attempt to do that, Upamecano, Guimaraes and Rabiot are on his radar.
Express Sport now looks at how they could fit into the Gunners’ starting XI.
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Dayot Upamecano
Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Upamecano when the transfer window was open back in the summer.
But they ultimately failed to land the 21-year-old, who has gone on to impress for Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.
Arsenal’s interest remains, however, and they’d love to secure the signature of the £40million-rated defender.
Should he sign, he’d go straight into the side.
And Arteta would then likely play a fully fit Rob Holding alongside him. Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz aren’t up to scratch, while Sokratis Papastathopoulos leaves much to be desired as well.
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Bruno Guimaraes
There’s been a lot of chatter about Lucas Torreira leaving Arsenal, with Napoli keen to sign the Uruguay international.
And, should he depart, the Gunners are reportedly keen to land Guimaraes as his replacement.
The 22-year-old has impressed for Atletico Paranaense this season and has been backed to get a Brazil call-up sooner, rather than later.
Should he arrive, Guimaraes would slot in alongside Matteo Guendouzi in the middle of the park.
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Adrien Rabiot
Arsenal have kept tabs on Rabiot for a number of years.
Arsene Wenger wanted to sign him from PSG before his walked away, while Unai Emery was backed to move for him in the summer.
The France international ended up joining Serie A titans Juventus instead but, so far, that transfer hasn’t worked out.
And he, too, would slot into the club’s midfield alongside Guendouzi and Guimaraes.
Full Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Upamecano, Holding, Tierney, Rabiot, Guimaraes, Guendouzi, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang