With the World Cup in full focus, clubs can plan their mid-season transfer dealings in relative peace and quiet. French 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has some advice for his former club Arsenal on how to remain in the pole position for the first Premier League title in 18 years.Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu have identified Udinese’s Brazilian defender Rodrigo Becao as an ideal addition to their squad. The 26-year-old has been producing steady performances for the Serie A side over the past three and a half seasons, having arrived from Bahia in his homeland via a season-long loan at Russian giants CSKA Moscow. Becao has a year and a half years of contract left with the black and whites from the northeast of Italy, and Edu wants to lure the tall centre-back to London before he commits to a new deal at Stadio Friuli.Rob Holding on Instagram. #afc pic.twitter.com/bvoEZ0wZvU— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) November 21, 2022 Apparently, Petit is “not a big fan” of Rob Holding, so he will probably like news that Arteta is interested in Becao. The Frenchman reckons Arsenal need three or four signings in January.”If Arsenal can add one more midfield player and one more central defender because I think they are short of central defenders – if William Saliba or Gabriel are injured, who’s going to play, Rob Holding? Really? I’m not a big fan of Holding.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6834178##It’s not only defence and midfield that Petit is concerned about. Adding a recognized striker and a winger or two would be advisable when injuries and suspensions start.”They need at least three or four players if they really want to compete for the title. I think they need more wingers up front, and another option as a striker. I really like Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, but they won’t be able to play every single game, especially after the World Cup so they’ll definitely need one striker, one winger, they need more competition for Saka and Martinelli. So overall, they need three or four players.”🚨🚨SCOUT ALERT: ARSENAL ARE LOOKING TO BRING “RODRIGO BECAO” TO THE EMIRATES🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/5TfOB95jCB— Kraiggy (Unofficial Scout for Arsenal Fc)and (@Kruptos6) November 24, 2022 Having played for France in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002, and having won the trophy in the former, Petit knows how much of a physical and mental strain it is. This year’s edition has been squeezed in the middle of the club season, so players need even more energy. That’s why the Gunners will need a big squad until the end of the campaign.”If they can avoid injury or suspensions, that would be great, but even then, most of the players are involved in the World Cup so they’re going to be tired mentally and physically as well. So they need to be active in the next transfer window.”
