Antoine Semenyo Arsenal plan emerges as Man City transfer timeline given

Arsenal could be handed a blow in their title race ambitions, with Manchester City's timeline for signing Antoine Semenyo becoming clearer and causing a potential problem for the Gunners.

Arsenal could be set to face off against Antoine Semenyo two more times this season, due to the planned transfer timeline ahead of him. The Bournemouth winger, who has been loosely linked with a move to the Gunners, is being lined up with a possible switch to Manchester City this January.

The forward has a £65m release clause that can be triggered early next month, as the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have kept their eye on him. However, a deal for Semenyo to join Man City now sounds most likely, which could impact the title race.

Not only because it strengthens the options available to Pep Guardiola, but because Mikel Arteta may well have to deal with him twice more this season. That's according to BBC Sport, which reports that Bournemouth want Semenyo available to face Arsenal on January the third, as well as Tottenham, before the release clause expires on January the tenth.

That is despite the player wanting the deal wrapped up by New Year's Day, which would allow him to move to the Etihad Stadium as soon as the window opens. That move from the Cherries could mean he plays against the Gunners before his move, while he would face them again for Man City in April 2026.

If he puts in the type of performance he is capable of, it's the sort of move that could end up costing Arteta and his team the title. Just three points separate Arsenal at the top from Aston Villa in third, with the title race heating up over a festive fixture schedule, as games come thick and fast.

All three contenders picked up a win on Saturday, though they were all tested in their own ways on their journey towards another three points. Arsenal's win over Brighton came thanks to a Martin Odegaard strike and an own-goal, though Diego Gomez's goal did cause some concern, but it was nothing more than a consolation in the end.

Man City relied on a late Rayan Cherki strike to pick up a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest, while Aston Villa produced a comeback against Chelsea to keep them in the title picture. It keeps things tight, with first taking on third in the next match at the Emirates Stadium.

"We can only control what we do," Arteta said on the title race. "And we're doing a lot of good things that I think that we have to improve as well to have the margins better, we need more players back as well to have better options and maintain the team very, very fresh, and every three days is going to be a challenge and we are up for it."

The January transfer window could well swing which way the title goes, though it is likely to be a quieter one for the north London side. The summer saw Arsenal spend heavily with roughly £250m invested in a squad that could deal with the abrasive nature of the season.

While injuries have hit the side just as hard as last season, the impact of that investment is clear to see, with a team capable of competing with key stars missing. There is a need to get players back from fitness, but given the strength of the squad, it seems business this winter is unlikely.

So, all eyes in the Arsenal camp will turn towards the business that Man City and Aston Villa will conduct to keep up with them. Semenyo to City adds another goal-scoring outlet who isn't named Erling Haaland, which will boost the options available to Guardiola.

It's unclear if investment will be made elsewhere in the team, as names emerge over the coming weeks. Similar can be said of Villa, who have had their financial troubles, but it could be time to strike while the iron is hot, rather than relying on sales.