---
title: "Arsenal set to lose crucial defender in January"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-set-to-lose-crucial-defender-in-january/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Josh Challies"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2015-12-15T19:02:15Z"
modified: "2015-12-15T19:02:15Z"
---

# Arsenal set to lose crucial defender in January

![Monreal](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Monreal-500x351.jpg)Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern have been celebrating a successful season so far in the bar with a bottle of bubbly, whilst they discuss transfer rumours as they play a game of darts.

One reported move has left them confused though, [as *Fichajes* state Arsenal will approve the sale of Nacho Monreal to La Liga side Athletic Bilbao in the January transfer window.](https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/athletic-vuelve-sonar-monreal-20151213.html)

The 29-year-old has endured a shaky time in English football but has come into his own this season, establishing himself as the first-choice left-back ahead of Kieran Gibbs.

Athletic have a strict transfer policy which only allows the recruitment of Basque players, giving them a limited pool of players to choice from, but Monreal has been a target of theirs for a while.

However, a potential sale of a first-team regular would be a surprise for Arsenal as they require their numbers to keep up their push for the Premier League title- a crown that has eluded them since 2004.

With Arsenal currently second in the table behind Leicester City, the Gunners are confident of finally ending their streak without a league crown this season and if they are to achieve that then Monreal will be crucial.

**Arsenal fans, would you sell Monreal in January? Let us know in the comments below!**