Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could have own Phil Foden to follow Pep Guardiola blueprint

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola may have given Mikel Arteta a plan on how to thrive without a natural centre forward at Arsenal.

The Gunners were desperate to sign a striker in the January transfer window to prevent Arteta from being short in the final third next season.

After several disciplinary woes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was allowed to leave for Barcelona. And with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract at the end of the season, bringing a no.9 to the Emirates Stadium is now a priority.

Serbian international Dusan Vlahovic was the club’s top target last month, but the striker opted to join Juventus from Fiorentina instead.

But Guardiola may have come to the rescue of Arteta by explaining how he uses Phil Foden as a false nine at City, a tactic which the Gunners boss could replicate with attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.

Foden has been deployed down the middle this season rather than on the left-wing, allowing him to drop into pockets of space to create but also spearhead the attack as well.

The 21-year-old has scored six and assisted three so far this season, but those figures don’t do justice to how influential the England international has been.

Speaking after City’s 4-0 victory over Norwich on Saturday night, Guardiola explained Foden’s position to reporters that the ‘role gets you closer to the goal to have shots and assists’.

And with Foden flourishing, Arteta may be tempted to take a leaf out of the book of the man he once shared the dugout with and play Smith Rowe in a similar role.

The exciting academy graduate has been impressive for the Gunners so far this season and the chance to be given licence to roam in the final third whilst also being relieved of all defensive