Arsenal have been instructed to launch a double swoop for Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo ahead of the January transfer window.
The Gunners failed in their attempts to sign Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz during the summer, while the likes of Youri Tielemans, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and even Isco have been touted for moves to north London next month in a bid to aid Arsenal's Premier League title charge.
But Emmanuel Petit has advised his former club to avoid signing Tielemans from Leicester and instead target Brighton ’s in-demand duo of Mac Allister and Caicedo in the new year. The Frenchman believes the pair are capable of doing “everything” Mikel Arteta wants in midfield.
Speaking to Mega Casino, Petit said: “If we’re talking about midfielders for Arsenal, I know the links are there with Tielemens at Leicester, who I think is a good player, but I’m not sure he is what Arsenal needs. I’m a big fan of two players from Brighton: Alexis Mac Alister and Moises Caicedo.
“Mac Alister, I said this last season before he won the World Cup, he is a guy that does everything in the midfield. He sets the tempo, carries the ball. Technically, he is very good. He scores goals.
“The guy that sits next to him at Brighton, Caicedo, he is excellent. If Arsenal could take both of those players, two guys who know each other, they would fit perfectly at the club. They would do everything that Arteta wants in midfield. Both of them are young and could form a partnership for years.”
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Brighton have become highly credited for their ability to identify little-known talents, with the likes of Yves Bissouma (bought from Lille) and Marc Cucurella (bought from Getafe) being sold on for big profits this summer to Tottenham and Chelsea respectively.
Mac Allister was plucked from Argentinos Juniors in 2019, before Caicedo arrived from Ecuadorian outfit Independiente del Valle in 2021. Following loan spells away from the club, both have burst into life and become two of the most sought-after midfielders in the English top flight.
Caicedo, 21, has two goals and two assists in 26 games in all competitions for the Seagulls but is better known for his tough-tackling and ability to break up play. As a result of his performances and interest from elsewhere, Brighton value him at around £60million.
As for Mac Allister, 23, he boasts an impressive 13 goals and six assists from 86 games across all competitions for Brighton. Increasing his stock further, he grabbed a goal and assist in six starts for Argentina to help them win the 2022 World Cup.
And it is the Argentine who particularly catches the eye for Petit, with the former Arsenal man in disbelief as to why none of the so-called Big Six sides are yet to sign the 23-year-old. He said: “In terms of his experience and maturity, he played almost every single game at the World Cup and he played really well. He is at Brighton! What are Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City doing? Come on! He plays brilliant football.”
