Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may be denied the opportunity to sign his No 1 January target – and it could be because of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal have made a strong start to the new Premier League season after finishing runners-up to City last term.

Arteta’s side are currently third behind City and rivals Tottenham, having won five and drawn two of their opening seven league games.

The Gunners suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Lens in the Champions League on Tuesday night, which saw Bukayo Saka pick up a muscular injury which may rule him out of Sunday’s league clash with City at the Emirates.

Gabriel Martinelli is also currently sidelined while Jurrien Timber is a long-term absentee after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury sustained in his league debut for the club in August.

Partly as a result of those injuries, Arsenal are expected to be active in the January transfer window and have been linked with a move for Wolves winger Pedro Neto.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of the Portuguese and could make a move for him this winter, according to The Mirror.

The north London club have had Neto on their shortlist since the summer of 2022 but have been previously priced out of a deal for the Portugal international.

The report claims that Neto’s ‘growing importance’ to Wolves could complicate a potential deal in January, with the Midlands club reluctant to part ways with one of their best players midway through the campaign.

Wolves are under less pressure to sell their star names following Matheus Nunes’ £53m move to Manchester City in the summer, which has eased Financial Fair Player (FFP) concerns at Molinuex.

Arteta and Arsenal may therefore have to wait until next summer if they are to finally get their man.