Mikel Arteta will be an extremely happy man heading into the break for the World Cup, with Arsenal topping the Premier League table following an excellent start to the season.
Thoughts should now start to turn to the January transfer window and despite the strong start, Arteta will be aiming to refresh the squad with one or two new faces, especially in his midfield.
The club have been linked with Danilo since the summer, however, it is a move for Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante which arguably sparks the most intrigue.
It has been reported that Chelsea will allow the Frenchman to leave the club for £18m in January due to his contract expiring at the end of the season, Arteta should pounce, especially with the player's agent reportedly offering the 31-year-old to Arsenal.
Arteta’s own Verratti
Kante has won a host of honours during his career, including the World Cup and the Champions League, and he could well add some vital experience to the Arsenal engine room.
The 31-year-old is also statistically very similar to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, meaning he would be a wonderful addition at The Emirates.
According to FBref, the Italian is the fifth most similar player to Kante across Europe’s top leagues and this isn’t a bad comparison to have considering Verratti’s success in France.
Last season saw the two midfielders register very similar statistics in regard to goal contributions (six to four), pass success rate (91% to 85.7%), shot-creating actions (77 to 71) and tackles won (40 to 31) - with the duo able to contribute to good effect either defensively or going forward.
A fee of £18m does sound pricey, especially when he is available for free in the summer, but this is a move Arteta shouldn’t be turning down.
His Arsenal side find themselves with a legitimate chance of winning a first league title in nearly 20 years and Kante, who has won two Premier League titles, has the experience that may take them over the finish line.
Frank Lampard declared him “world-class” during his time as Chelsea manager and with his endless running and enthusiasm, the Spaniard should be making Kante his main priority in January.