Mikel Arteta Shrugs Off Man City’s £85m January Spending as Arsenal Hold Firm

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not react to Man City big January transfers spending as the title race intensifies.

Mikel Arteta has played down Manchester City’s aggressive January transfer activity, insisting Arteta Man City spending will not force Arsenal into abandoning their long-term strategy.

With Arsenal holding a narrow lead at the top of the Premier League table, City attempted to close the gap by committing £85 million on two new signings. Yet Arteta made it clear that the Gunners will not be drawn into reactive decision-making as the title race reaches a critical phase.

Buy Arsenal's 2025–26 Home Kit through the ArsenalTalks Shop

Click this link to buy the new 2025–26 Arsenal home kit through our ArsenalTalks Shop.

Pep Guardiola’s side strengthened decisively by signing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo for £65 million and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi for an initial £20 million.

Both players had previously been monitored by Arsenal, adding further intrigue to City’s moves. Semenyo arrives to boost attacking depth, while Guehi’s signing was accelerated by the defender entering the final six months of his Palace contract.

City’s winter business continues a long-standing trend under Guardiola, with the club now having spent close to £2 billion since his arrival in 2016.

Arteta unmoved by City’s transfer power

Despite City’s spending, Arteta showed no surprise when asked about the deals.

“That is their business,” Arteta said.
“I know what they’re going to do and what they’ve been doing for the last 10 to 15 years. They want to win and they will do everything to win.”

The Arsenal manager stressed that City’s actions would not influence the club’s own plans, reinforcing the importance of discipline and clarity during the window.

While City added reinforcements, Arsenal remained quiet. The Gunners’ only notable January move saw highly-rated youngster Ethan Nwaneri loaned out to Marseille, with Arteta choosing to trust the squad assembled over the summer.

When pressed on whether City’s spending created urgency, Arteta was firm.

“Not because of them. If we have issues, we need to be on top of that,” he explained.
“We have our ambitions, but we also have our own restrictions. We need to know what we can do and what we believe is the right thing to do.”

The contrast between the two clubs could not be clearer. City continue to use financial power to respond instantly to challenges, while Arsenal prioritise cohesion, planning and internal growth.

Arteta, who worked under Guardiola at the Etihad, acknowledged City’s winning mentality but remained focused on Arsenal’s identity and trajectory.

With the January window now closed, Arsenal remain in control of their destiny. City’s new signings may increase pressure, but Arteta’s message is clear — Arsenal will back their process rather than chase rivals.

As the season enters its decisive months, that belief could prove just as powerful as any transfer splash.

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.