Arsenal’s dream season just got a whole lot dreamier. As Mikel Arteta’s Gunners soar at the summit of the Premier League, conceding a miserly three goals in 14 matches across all competitions and eyeing Chelsea’s historic defensive record from 2004/05, a seismic transfer boost has landed in the Emirates’ lap. Levante’s prolific 22-year-old striker Karl Etta Eyong – the man dubbed the ‘Next Lewandowski’ for his ruthless finishing and intelligent movement – has issued a bold, public “come-and-get-me” plea to Arsenal, signaling his eagerness to join the title charge.
In a stunning interview with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo this week, the Cameroonian sensation didn’t hold back. “Arsenal are building something special under Arteta – the way they play, the hunger to win everything… it’s a dream for any forward like me,” Etta Eyong declared. “I’ve watched their games, seen how they dominate. If the call comes, I’ll be on the first flight to London. Come and get me – I’m ready to score goals for the Gunners!” The comments, which have sent shockwaves through the transfer grapevine, come at a perfect time for Arsenal, who are reportedly leading the race for his signature despite interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.
Etta Eyong’s form has been nothing short of electric this season. The 22-year-old has plundered six goals in La Liga already – a tally only surpassed by Kylian Mbappé’s 11 – earning rave reviews for his clinical instincts and box-crashing runs that echo the prime Robert Lewandowski. With Arsenal having just secured the signing of Viktor Gyökeres in a blockbuster summer deal, the addition of Etta Eyong could form a devastating partnership up top, providing depth and firepower as Arteta plots a multi-front assault on silverware. His release clause sits at a tantalizing £26.5m for La Liga clubs, but Premier League suitors like the Gunners would need to fork out around £35m to seal the deal – a bargain for a player already turning heads across Europe.
This public endorsement is music to Arteta’s ears, especially as Arsenal string together eight straight victories and six consecutive clean sheets following their 2-0 Carabao Cup triumph over Brighton in midweek. The Gunners are dreaming of ending a 21-year Premier League title drought, with a favorable run of fixtures ahead: a Champions League clash against Slavia Praha sandwiched between league dates with Burnley and Sunderland. Tougher tests loom in November – Tottenham, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich – but reinforcements like Etta Eyong could prove pivotal in navigating that gauntlet.
Arteta’s squad is already a well-oiled machine, but the transfer window’s lingering whispers suggest the Spaniard is far from finished bolstering his ranks. Etta Eyong’s plea isn’t just flattery; it’s a statement of intent from a player who could slot seamlessly into Arsenal’s high-pressing, goal-hungry system. Barcelona, ironically, view him as Lewandowski’s heir at the ripe old age of 37, while Manchester United and City lurk in the shadows. For Arteta, though, this feels like destiny – a goal machine ready to fire Arsenal to glory.
Scholes Doubles Down on Rice Criticism Amid Midfield Mastery
Not everyone is singing Arsenal’s praises, however. Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has reignited controversy by doubling down on his snub of Declan Rice from his top-five midfielders list, insisting the England star doesn’t fit his ideal mold of a “progressive” playmaker.
The former Red Devil, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, defended overlooking Rice and Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo in favor of Rodri, Alexis Mac Allister, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and PSG’s Vitinha. “I get slagged off for this, but I like a different type of midfielder,” Scholes explained. “I like Vitinha at PSG – he’s amazing. Mac Allister was brilliant last year at Liverpool. I like that controlling one who can do a bit of everything, not just the defensive one who gets around and scores the odd goal. Rice? He’s not my type.”
The comments have drawn fury from Arsenal fans, who point to Rice’s transformative impact since his £105m arrival from West Ham. Yet, off the pitch, good news brews: reports suggest Arsenal are accelerating talks for a new, improved contract for the 26-year-old, rewarding his pivotal role in their title push. With Rice anchoring the midfield alongside Martin Ødegaard and now potentially feeding Etta Eyong, Scholes’ barbs feel increasingly out of touch.
Lewis-Skelly’s Defiant Message: “I’m Never Going to Back Down”
In the trenches of Arsenal’s left-back battle, young gun Myles Lewis-Skelly is refusing to yield. The 19-year-old England prospect, who burst onto the scene last season with a string of eye-catching displays, has been sidelined by Riccardo Calafiori’s impeccable form – the Italian has started every Premier League minute thus far.
But after providing the assist for Ethan Nwaneri’s opener in the Brighton win, Lewis-Skelly issued a defiant rallying cry. “I’m enjoying it. It’s a different experience not playing as much, but I’m part of the team,” he told reporters post-match. “It’s important to compete for places – I’m a competitive person, so I’m never going to back down. I enjoy the challenge. The standards are high, everyone wants to play. Levels are so much higher this season, places are short, but you’ve got to compete.
“At the end of the day, I just want to express myself. Football’s what I love, and I’ll never make excuses. As long as I’m doing that, I’m giving the gaffer a choice.”
Arteta will relish such hunger from his academy products. With a quarter-final Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace looming, and strong showings in the Premier League and Champions League, Lewis-Skelly’s grit embodies the Arsenal ethos: unrelenting, no matter the depth chart.
As the Gunners pull clear of stumbling rivals – Manchester City and Liverpool among those faltering – this cocktail of form, fight, and transfer intrigue paints a picture of champions in waiting. Etta Eyong’s plea could be the spark that ignites it all. Watch this space: the Emirates is calling, and the ‘Next Lewandowski’ is listening.