- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
Arsenal have become a strong player in the transfer window in recent years, making the most of the market time and time again.
With the January window now on the horizon, clubs like the Gunners will be stepping up their transfer activity.
Now, it has been revealed that Arsenal were in attendance at a Championship game this week to watch a “Roy Keane-esque” midfielder and a “top goalkeeper”.
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Arsenal scouted Sunderland duo Chris Rigg and Anthony Patterson
TBR Football can reveal that Arsenal were represented at Luton’s 2-1 loss to Sunderland on Wednesday evening.
Sources have indicated to TBR Football that the main reason for their trip was to assess Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfield starlet Chris Rigg.
Rigg is a player that Arsenal and all of Europe’s top clubs have been following closely over the past 12-months.
Their assessment of him continued at Kenilworth Road and they would no doubt have been impressed with what they saw as he scored in their 2-1 win.
Another player that Arsenal have checked on before is Patterson – himself someone who many Premier League clubs have been looking at, including the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea as they look for a potential British number two.
Like Rigg, Patterson is enjoying a very good season under new Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris, who has led Sunderland to the top of the Championship.
READ MORE: Paul Merson ‘disappointed’ with what £190k-a-week Arsenal player has done ahead of Liverpool clash
Who are Arsenal targets Chris Rigg and Anthony Patterson?
Rigg is a 17-year-old midfielder who plies his trade for Sunderland and represents England at Under-17 level.
He has already made 37 competitive appearances for the Black Cats, registering six goals. This season, he has 12 outings and three Championship goals under his belt.
Fotmob have quoted Tony Mowbray as saying Rigg possesses a “Roy Keane-esque type of nastiness” that makes him extremely effective out of possession.
Meanwhile, Patterson is a 24-year-old goalkeeper who came through the ranks at Sunderland and has 134 appearances to his name for the club, plus 11 outings on loan at Notts County.
Former interim manager Mike Dodds told We Are Sunderland last season: “He’s one of the best goalies in the league.”