Angus is a freelance analytical writer for Football FanCast.
Having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sports Journalism in 2022, Angus found a home at FFC after previously writing for Vavel and OurSoundMusic.
A fervent Liverpool supporter, Angus has covered a range of Premier League clubs, from both Merseyside outfits, to the Old Gold of Wolverhampton and the South Coast of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Outside of football, he is a voracious reader and plays the piano.
You might have noticed that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been spoken about more than a Mariah Carey Christmas tune throughout December, but rarely has he been mentioned in the same breath as Arsenal.
That’s not to say the Gunners haven’t registered their interest. Semenyo is a boyhood Gunner, and technical director Andrea Berta has recently been in touch.
But Arsenal haven’t pushed like Manchester City, and the versatile Cherries forward, who has a £65m release clause, looks to be headed there, even though there’s a sense in north London that Arsenal would sign him if they pushed hard enough.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both have parts to play in Mikel Arteta’s system, but that’s not to say Arsenal won’t pounce on the right opportunity this winter.
Arsenal could make January signing
The Premier League table-toppers spent smartly last summer, and they are well poised to challenge for the title right until the end. But Arteta knows the strength of Pep Guardiola’s Man City, who may add Semenyo to their ranks next month.
With that in mind, Arsenal might want to respond emphatically, signing a new wide forward with the potential to rival Bukayo Saka as being the cream of the Londoners’ crop. After all, Arteta has stated his side will be “actively looking” at ways to improve through January.
According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are among the favourites to sign Hoffenheim youngster Bazoumana Toure, with the 19-year-old winger attracting interest from any number of elite clubs across Europe.
Valued at €45m (converting to roughly £39m), the one-cap Ivory Coast international is considered a prize by his German employers, and they do not want to sell.
Arsenal are joined by Manchester United in being at the ‘front of the queue’ for his signature..
Why Toure is perfect for Arteta’s project
Toure is only a teenager, having joined Hoffenheim from Swedish giants Hammarby FC at the start of 2025. He is already considered a top talent in Germany, dovetailing into life in the Bundesliga.
The gifted winger’s pace and anticipation don’t leave much to be desired, and while he has only scored twice from 14 matches in the Bundesliga this term, five assists underline his efficiency in the final third.
The left-sided winger has also averaged 5.8 duels and 1.7 dribbles per game. He is robust and dynamic, the perfect wide partner for Saka, with whom he shares a number of tactical traits.
When a winger is difficult to stop once they get going and powerful enough to shield the ball from preying defenders, you know that you are onto a winner. And Toure is a “scary” prospect for these reasons, as has been noted by journalist Bence Bocsak.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of Bundesliga wingers in 2025/26 for progressive carries, the top 10% for successful take-ons, and the top 2% for both aerial duels won and ball recoveries made per 90.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
This is a complete winger, someone with athleticism and strength and energy. Someone quite like Saka.
The Bundesliga have a lot of up-and-coming quality, but the aforementioned Bocsak has declared him to be “one of the most exciting young wingers in European football”.
It would take a lot for him to rival Saka at the Emirates. The Three Lions superstar has been so consistent over the years, such an invaluable asset for Arteta and his burgeoning project.
Arteta’s Most-used Arsenal Players
Player
Apps
Goals + Assists
Bukayo Saka
266
74 + 72
Gabriel Martinelli
227
49 + 28
Gabriel Magalhaes
226
22 + 8
Martin Odegaard
212
41 + 40
Ben White
170
6 + 13
Data via Transfermarkt
Analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that Toure’s “crossing, ball striking, shielding, finishing and defensive discipline remind me of Saka.”
In this, we can see why the Gunners are so interested in getting a deal done. This is a top talent, one who might just become a sensation who is cut from the same cloth as Saka.
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