Do Arsenal need to strengthen any areas in January?

There is six weeks until the January transfer window opens up, so we thought we’d analyse the Arsenal squad, and consider where we could strengthen.

Our club are constantly linked with a number of players throughout the season, whether the transfer windows are open or not, but what areas can we actually improve on currently?

Petr Cech and David Ospina represent the best goalkeeper of the current campaign, and the best ever to grace the Premier League, as well as a full international shotstopper who is still yet to hit his prime. No improvement can be made here.

Our defence is also the strongest it has been for some time, with the formidable partnership of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny in the middle, and Spanish internationals Bellerin and Monreal out wide. Kieran Gibbs is competent enough in the role, but I expect him to leave in search of more regular action next summer, and it would not be a bad idea to prepare ourselves for his departure.

Our midfield is also extremely strong, and with various types of player who can play different roles for our side, it is difficult to pinpoint a weakness. We are also well stacked in the advanced roles, with Ozil, Alexis, Walcott, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey all vying for roles in behind the striker.

Sanchez is of course also starring in the centre-forward role, while we have Lucas Perez and Danny Welbeck set to increase pressure on the Chilean and Giroud for the striker spot, which Alexis is currently winning the race for.

The French striker has been limited to the bench so far this term, but has severely impressed when being brought on, although I’m sure there are still plenty of Gunners who would like to see Olivier replaced or bettered in the coming windows.

Is the striker role still our weakest spot? Do we need another full-back/s in the coming windows?

Pat J

Tags Arsenal

8 Comments

  1. Honestly, it is a bit difficult to say right now if we need to buy anyone in January. I would not say no to any bargain or replace an injured position but just to buy for the sake of it, I am totally against it.

  2. I feel Monreal is not as consistent as he was in previous seasons, his being roasted way too many times and by way too many players this season. I believe he was partially responsible for the Mata goal too, we should either consider using Gibbs as first choice (I think he is good enough for it) or look for replacement otherwise.

    1. That Xhaka team mate at national level, will fill the bill of curse.
      And I think we need another Cazorla even though there’s only 1 Santi, the closest to him we have is Wilshere if all turns out well in the near future.

  3. This may sound harsh and unfair but I’m beginning to wonder about the wisdom of buying Lucas Pirez. I know that he has hardly had a chance but I have a sneaking suspicion that he is not the quality or the type of striker that we need. Money would have been better spent if we had put our hands deeper into our pockets and paid the going price for someone like Lacazette. The problem with buying Pirez is that until he has been given a chance our hands are literally tied about buying another striker.

  4. I’d love Aubamayang if there was ever a hope in hell but doubt it will happen under Wenger. Get rid of Ramsey, if all this Real Madrid interest is true, swap him out for Isco in a heartbeat!

  5. we need a better LB to start… Gibbs n Monreal are not good enough starters.
    get RICARDO RODRIGUEZ or pay big for ALABA.

    a better back-up RB than the fragile Jenkinson so Bellerin can be rested more often…
    …SERGE AURIER will be perfect but considering he ll be away in January n start of February for AFCON n wnt b available for selection in UCL as he has alrdy featured for PSG we could get another.

    a player like Van Dijk could also be useful so Koscielny/Mustafi can be rotated/rested from time to time without any worry also cos Per Mertesacker is close to the end of his contract n past his best now. But it’s not so much of a needed signing so that can wait till summer.

    for the CM- Cazorla role he should be back nxt month n till then Xhaka should take his spot, Wilshere ll also be back in the summer so we dnt really need any reinforcement there.
    but if Madrid really want Ramsey we should gladly swap him for Isco.

    above all we need a natural LW. Iwobi has done well but we need a more lethal n more precise natural LWF. assuming Alexis is our new striker, our previous need for a striker has now shifted to need for a replacement for Alexis on the Leftwing position.
    MARCO REUS would be perfect but for his incessant injuries.
    Neymar ll never be sold n we wnt pay that much for him.
    Greizmann is quality but requires space behind the defense to do his thing hence could be limited n not be the x-factor we need against bus-parkers. b he also relies on pace rather than flair.
    Mahrez is very good but he is a RW not a LW n hasn’t shown consistency at all this season.
    Douglas Costa is another option but he isn’t really a goalscorer, dnt think he can give 20 odd goals per season, a great dribbler nonetheless.
    …same with Draxler, but he is younger.
    Isco is good but more a midfield orchestrator than a forward.

    we need a LWF that is a realistic target, a great goal scorer, fantastic, skillful dribbler n isn’t injury-prone.

  6. We will sell loan during the winter transfer. Debuchy, Sanogo, Mertesacker and maybe even Perez as we have Welbeck and Akpom back.

    We seriously need to look at our LB position. Gibbs injured to often and Monreal is starting to show his age a bit. We do it this winter or we buy a LB in the summer.

    Ramsey for Isco could be a move. Isco would be good for left wing or as a Santi cazorla replacement.

  7. We have our strongest squad since as far back as I can remember (started supporting the club in 2000) but not the strongest starting XI by any stretch of imagination.

    After adding Mustafi, Holding and Xhaka in the previous window, and with Wilshere out on loan, the areas we can still strengthen in are:

    1. A goal-scoring winger or an out and out, quality striker,
    2. An upgrade at LB, and
    3. Back-up at RB.

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