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Arsenal are making a strong push to sign a highly-rated 18-year-old - but their rivals are lurking
Harry Brent Senior Sports Writer 06:00, 07 Dec 2025
Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League glory took a significant hit following a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa. Emi Buendia's dramatic late strike on Saturday sealed victory for Unai Emery's men, narrowing the gap between the two sides to a mere three points.
Matty Cash opened the scoring for Villa in the first half, but Leandro Trossard equalised soon after the interval. Arsenal's hopes of rescuing anything were snuffed out in the dying seconds when Buendia curled in a composed finish following a frantic goalmouth scramble.
Mikel Arteta's men, who have now dropped points in three of their last five league outings, must regroup quickly as the busy festive run draws nearer. Below, football.london rounds up the latest Arsenal-related headlines.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Bouaddi '
Arsenal are reportedly in talks to sign 18-year-old French starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Lille youngster has emerged as one of Europe's most exciting midfield prospects and the Gunners are eager to outmanoeuvre their rivals in the race for his signature.
Chelsea and PSG are said to be monitoring Bouaddi closely, though Arsenal are claimed to be in the strongest position. As reported by RMC Sport, the North London side are "making a strong push" to recruit the teenager, with sporting director Andrea Berta already speaking with the midfielder's camp.
Although Bouaddi agreed a new deal to renew his contract with Lille on Saturday, the Ligue 1 outfit are said to be willing to accept a bid of roughly £52million. The report adds that they would, however, prefer that any deal be completed next summer rather than during the January window.
Bidding war claims
Arsenal's rising interest in Bouaddi could spark a bidding war across Europe, it has been claimed. Alongside Chelsea and PSG, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City are also admirers of the France U21 star - meaning the Gunners' assertive stance may prompt rivals to accelerate their own moves.
Bouaddi is a polished yet combative midfielder, often likened to United's Kobbie Mainoo and Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga - a high-upside profile coveted across the continent.
If Arsenal choose to seriously challenge Lille's stance, they may soon face heavy competition, with numerous top-tier clubs monitoring developments closely.
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