Arsenal have opened up a lead atop the Premier League over Manchester City, but a former player fears their title rivals could be bolstered by a smart January window
Former Arsenal star Alan Smith fears Manchester City signing Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi could see them beat his old club to the title. The Gunners currently sit atop the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side are yet to wilt in their bid for a top-flight crown and face Liverpool on Thursday night with a fair gap to the chasing City and Aston Villa. They could extend their advantage to eight points with a win.
But they have been in this position before. Both City and Liverpool have pipped them to the trophy in recent years. Sky Sports commentator Smith, who bagged 115 goals for the Gunners, fears that if City make some shrewd early January acquisitions and Arsenal do not, then they could play second fiddle once again.
It is Bournemouth ace Semenyo and Crystal Palace skipper Guehi who Smith is concerned Pep Guardiola‘s side could crucially sign and once again trump Arsenal.
Semenyo had been linked with a move to the Emirates but with the January window still in its infancy, City have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to sign the 26-year-old for £65m pending medical tests. He scored in the Cherries’ win against Tottenham on Wednesday evening.
READ MORE: Arne Slot makes telling Marc Guehi admission after Liverpool learn January transfer priceREAD MORE: Antoine Semenyo Liverpool disagreement details as ‘£65m transfer fee agreed’
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This may not be the only piece of early business they complete, either. Palace defender Guehi was close to joining Liverpool in the summer but stayed put after that deal collapsed.
City are now in need of a defender after Josko Gvardiol suffered a tibial fracture in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea. Ruben Dias is also sidelined and so attention has reportedly turned to Guehi, who could move in January if a reported £40m price tag is met.
Smith is fearful about Arsenal’s title rivals completing these deals and speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, he said: “I’m a bit worried about City and Semenyo, and if they get Guehi.
“I don’t like that at all. Because as City are at the moment, I think Arsenal are better in terms of the squad. But listen, if City are breathing down their necks with four or five games to go, how are Arsenal going to handle it? That is the question.”
Regarding Guehi, Palace boss Oliver Glasner has dropped a sizeable hint about his future, with City supposedly preparing a bid for the England international. Glasner said: “Everybody wants that he plays for Crystal Palace, signs a new contract and stays here forever.
“On the other side, there’s the situation that the contract ends in the summer and if somebody is coming, there will be a moment when the club says, ‘Now the financial issue is more important than the sport issue.’
“We have to do it and try to get the best. That’s why I’m always saying, ‘I don’t know.’ Because this is different. There will be a threshold where the club has to say [yes].
“If the player says, ‘I want to leave,’ and the money is above the threshold, it will happen. I’m not so naive not to know that if a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 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 next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
