Arsenal could be in line for a significant financial boost in the January transfer window, thanks to Mikel Arteta's tactical adjustments in defence during Sunday's victory over Liverpool. The Gunners maintained their top spot in the Premier League with an impressive win, and Arteta's decision to start Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back ahead of Kieran Tierney paid off handsomely.
Tomiyasu, typically a right-back, successfully contained Mohamed Salah for most of the match, raising questions about his future role. If he continues to perform well, he could become Arsenal's third-choice left-back behind Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko, potentially pushing Nuno Tavares further down the pecking order.
Tavares, who joined Arsenal from Benfica for £7m last summer, is currently on loan at Marseille. He has enjoyed a strong start in France, and Arsenal reportedly placed a £25m valuation on him over the summer. Although no suitable bids were received before his loan move, a successful season could attract clubs willing to meet that price.
Tavares has hinted at a desire for a permanent move, having criticised his lack of playing time at Arsenal. He told RMC Sport: 'At Arsenal, I do not know if it was a problem of competition with Kieran Tierney... I came to Marseille to finally be able to play in my position.' With Tomiyasu proving his versatility, Arsenal may decide to cash in on Tavares when the opportunity arises.
