Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon has expressed his belief that Angel Gomes would be an outstanding addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad, following the 24-year-old’s impressive rise at Lille and recent emergence as an England international.
Gomes, who left Manchester United in 2020 after spending nearly a decade in the club’s academy, has become a key player for Lille in Ligue 1. He has made over 100 appearances for the French side in the past three seasons and played a crucial role in England’s triumph at the European U21 Championships. His stellar performances in the French league, where he recorded the joint-most assists last season, earned him a call-up to the senior England squad under interim boss Lee Carsley during the last international break.
Reflecting on the former United youth star’s potential move, Dixon said, “Angel Gomes would fit in at Arsenal superbly. His qualities are clear to see—he’s a very good link-up player, and we’ve seen that he can play alongside Declan Rice.”
Dixon added that while there will be significant interest from various clubs, he could envision Gomes joining Arsenal, a team consistently challenging for top honors under Arteta.
Gomes’ meteoric rise at Lille has led some United fans to question why the club allowed the talented midfielder to leave. However, his development abroad has caught the attention of many, and Dixon believes Arsenal would be a perfect destination for him to continue his career at the highest level.
Pressure on Arteta to Deliver Major Trophies
While Dixon is keen on Gomes joining Arsenal, he also addressed the pressure on Mikel Arteta to deliver major trophies, particularly the Premier League and Champions League. Arsenal have not lifted the league title since 2004, and Dixon insists that Arteta’s tenure would be considered a failure if he leaves the club without securing one of the biggest prizes.
“If Mikel Arteta leaves Arsenal without winning the Premier League or Champions League, you’d have to say it’s been a failure because that’s what he is there to do, to win the biggest trophies,” Dixon said. “He would be the first to say that.”
Dixon highlighted that Arsenal’s strengthened defense could be key in their pursuit of European glory, especially as they aim to break their long-standing Champions League drought. “They’ve got that solidity to build on, but they need to get through the winter months with few injuries—that is the challenge for all the clubs in Europe.”
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday with a home fixture against Bournemouth, while Angel Gomes and Lille face Monaco in Ligue 1.