Arsenal and City ready to compete for Evans again

Arsenal and Manchester City are set to move for West Bromwich Albion captain Jonny Evans in January, with Albion considering whether to cash in to raise funds for new head coach Alan Pardew.

Pep Guardiola, the City manager, is keen to add a new centre-half and failed in a bid to sign Evans in the summer. The absence of John Stones with a hamstring injury has heightened City’s need for defensive additions.

It is understood Arsenal also made a move for Evans a few days before the deadline at the end of August, with an offer of around £25million rejected.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is seriously considering turning to Danny Welbeck rather than Olivier Giroud for the visit of Manchester United tomorrow despite the France striker’s two goals in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield on Wednesday and the absence of Alexandre Lacazette with a groin injury. Welbeck’s extra movement in the main striker’s position could stretch his former club’s defence.

Wenger believes that Jose Mourinho’s team will not simply sit deep and “park the bus” despite just one away goal and three points in their last seven matches against the socalled ‘big six’.

“Manchester United is a strong team,” said Wenger. “They will attack. They will not only defend. They are a dangerous team, they have made fantastic results so to beat a team like that you need to be at your best.”

Santi Cazorla has undergone a ninth operation on his Achilles in just a year to place further doubt on whether he will ever play professionally again. Wenger said: “That’s for me, the disastrous, sad news. He is a guy I admire. I hope he’ll be all right and back with us in January.”