Arsenal news: Arteta ‘blocking three January exits’ as boss risks relationships going sour | Football | Sport
Mikel Arteta will reportedly put his foot down and prevent three fringe players leaving Arsenal in January. Cedric, Jakub Kiwior and Aaron Ramsdale have all been feeding off scraps this season, and any hopes of a route to regular game time look set to be scuppered by the Gunners boss.
Ramsdale – demoted to second choice goalkeeper since David Raya’s arrival – has played only once in the Premier League since early September. That came against Brentford, when Raya was ineligible to face his parent club.
Kiwior signed from Spezia in a £20million January deal earlier this year, but the Poland international has found it difficult to stamp his authority on the backline ahead of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White. The 23-year-old has amassed fewer than 250 minutes in the Premier League this term – the equivalent of less than three full games.
Things are even more desperate for Cedric, whose only two appearances have come in the Carabao Cup and Champions League.
Even so, The Athletic claim that Arteta wants all hands on deck for the upcoming Premier League title run-in, with the trio set to be blocked from leaving as a result. Arsenal are currently two points behind table-toppers Liverpool, but they would return to the summit with a win over West Ham on Thursday night.
Ramsdale has piqued the interest of Newcastle United, who are seeking cover for the injured Nick Pope. But the Gunners are reportedly unmoved by the prospect of a standard loan arrangement.
Cedric is the subject of long-standing links with Villarreal, whose interest in the right-back stretches back to the summer. Despite his crippling lack of action in 2023/24, Arteta is believed to be keen on retaining the 32-year-old as cover. He may be allowed to depart if Arsenal sign a defender, however.
Having splashed a club record £105m on Declan Rice in the last transfer window, Financial Fair Play restrictions will keep a tight leash on the Gunners, who are expected to pursue loan opportunities in January as a result.
