Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and Arsenal’s loss to Fulham was not one of them. Arteta and the boys suffered a blow in their quest for the Premier League crown, losing 2-1 to Fulham in a game that could have taken them to the top of the table (before Liverpool played Newcastle).
The loss has dropped Arsenal to fourth place, 5 points behind League leaders Liverpool, two points behind a resurgent Aston Villa, and on the same points as Manchester City, who have played one fewer game.
Arsenal is in a difficult situation after only picking up one point in the last three league games.
One of the most visible problems for the Gunners has been their inability to score goals when they should. Despite dominating games and displaying remarkable control, Arsenal have been unable to convert chances into goals.
This problem has cost them precious points and the ability to sustain a continuous advantage in critical matches.
With the January transfer window open, all eyes are on Mikel Arteta and Edu. With a successful winter transfer window, Arsenal may be able to shrug off their recent troubles and maintain their title charge.
A prolific striker, a creative midfielder, and a versatile fullback are all non-negotiable signings to make.
To increase their effectiveness in front of goal, they need to bring in a top goal-scoring striker like Ivan Toney, who can consistently find the back of the net and relieve the strain on their current attacking options.
A clinical finisher with a goal-scoring instinct may be the missing ingredient to turn Arsenal’s impressive build-up approach into concrete results.
The Gunners require a midfield master who can influence the tempo of the game, unlock opponent defenses, and contribute defensively and offensively.
Another midfield option, besides Declan Rice, will allow Arsenal to modify their game when they feel it isn’t working. A midfield of Havertz, Odegaard, and Rice could become predictable, so having another option to switch things up could be beneficial.
A versatile fullback could be a good addition, given that White and Zinchenko don’t have a trustworthy backup after Tomiyasu leaves for the Asian games.
It is apparent that the January transfer window provides Arteta with a strategic opportunity to address the many concerns his team has had and build his team for the next challenges.
I believe the Gunners will restore momentum and build a credible title fight in the second half of the season if they are successful in this transfer window. That, plus a few tactical alterations to avoid the predictability that they have been accused of, could impact their season positively.
Sam P
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It will be hard to have a successful January window. We haven’t got much wiggle room, anywhere. Im afraid we have pushed the finances to the max.
Yes and no news from Romano/ Ornstein/ Watts yet
A successful transfer of a sane manger to Arsenal this window can get Arsenal back on track. Nothing else. I’ve seen funds wasted on Raya, Zinny, Ben White, Fabio, Jorginho, Gab J., Kai, and wages wasted on Kai, Eddie, Nelson, Elneny as well as player contracts ripped up/discarded for nothing.
Let Arteta and Edu work hard Tony or Osimbe to be scoring goals,for the team to get maximum points in the second round.
I don’t expect any silver bullet in January. We have to do better with what we have, this is where the coaching has to step up. Yes, we definitely need a goal scorer but that is not all that is wrong. We are pedestrian in our approach and being overrun in midfield, Rice can’t do it all by himself.
We need a winger, a DM/CM and a versatile defender, but I imagine we’ll have to sell first.
Devalue the players we have that aren’t wanted so difficult to sell
Refuse to sell when the times right,like Partey at the end of last season
Extend contracts with players that almost never touch the pitch
Ridiculous wages for many players that aren’t earning them at all
Loan out players then say we don’t have squad depth
Ask for dad to open the wallet again when form drops after you haven’t improved any squad players in training
Buy players that fill positions that aren’t a priority
Repeat
U just sum up arteta right there and I fully agree with everything there. Yet to see a single academy player being promoted to the first team and improve / used by arteta.
If not for emery, Saka and smith rowe would not have being promoted to the first team and I wonder if emery was allowed to stay longer who knows the others talents that he would have promoted to the first team.
Top comment. Sad but true
Anders, Jen….care to comment?
I don’t mind engaging with you once again, but obviously you’d need to apologise for lying about MA, and ranting like a 4 year old.
Once you’ve done that, start acting like an adult, and do some research on Arsenal football club, I think we could have some enjoyable debates on Arsenal.
You said it all right there.
And also @pheonix gunner
@PJ-SA
🎯 There you have it, in a nutshell…
Exactly what the problem is now at arsenal, but selling players like partey and xhaka is not the best ideal because arsenal just bottle a league to finished second expectation is higher the following season that arsenal is going to come back again to come win league so all eye we be on the team, so instead of selling first team players it rather sell the fringe player to get more or loan them out to get playing time and to create space for the incoming, players xahka shouldn’t have being sold now maybe after winning the league that is helping man City after winning the league and champion 🏆 league that when okay gondogan.
We do not need another creative midfielder but an athletic box to box operator to support Rice .As it is I don’t think we have the financial resources to spend big at this juncture and unless we can negotiate a sensible loan deal I suspect we will have to soldier on with what we have.
Yes I miss A.Ramsey now
@Grandad,
What do you think of Conor Gallagher? He’s been one of the best Chelsea players this season, playing that B2B role and being a tackling menace in the middle.
I read Chelsea might cash in on him since he has not signed an extension and they are in desperate need of income (FFP) and no ones going to buy their 7-8 year contract players.
*Lets just assume we wouldn’t overpay like we did with Havertz*
We did not over pay for Havertz bur we will if we pay over 70m for an unproven striker like Toney.
Havertz was always going to take time to settle and he is doing that very nicely. The press do know know everytthing about football and they got Havertz wrong.
As for Gallagher he is not what AFC are looking for , not least because his temperment is suspect at best.
Havertz was worth 35 mil max. Especially considering Chelsea’s desperation with FFP.
McTominay got a 30 mil bid from West Ham, and frankly he is a more effective end product producer than Havertz AND Homegrown as well.
Gallagher ,like Mount, is hard working but does not have the technical ability not the composure to make things happen in the final third.I would not have bought Havertz and I do not want Gallacher.
None of the “strikers” linked to Arsenal are proven and none of them guarantee any improvement to the perceived issues in the team.
The problem is that there are games when the whole team does not turn up, mentally or physically. It is time for a kick up the arse not to waste £100 million on Toney which may breach FFP rules anyway.
I’ll take Giroud/Lacazette/Aubameyang over the current attacking options that we have. Seriously.
Giroud, yes. (Age aside)
The other two were dispensed with after they ran around earning too much money for little or no return.
An article that sets out the many needs we have still to fill and does it rather well.
But the piece also IGNORES the complete impossibility of being financially unable to spend ANY real money in JANUARY.
Which means that realists such as I gain nothing from the article at all, that we did not already know.
👍🏻
Agree there Jon, if we had the wiggle room within FFP we would have bought that liability of our new number 1 by now.
If we do buy anybody (which ain’t happening) we would have to sell all of our devalued players such as Ramsdale, Tierney, Soares, Partey, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Marquinos and Eddie to pay for a loan fee with the option to buy for one player in January.
I’m afraid this article is all but a pipe dream as I can’t see anything substantial this window, unless Kim Kallstrom comes out of retirement.
Some decent targets my be possible. Vlahovich for Patino plus cash, or Zubimebdi to be financed with Partey and Eddi sell. This is two great players for on injured and one mediocre. Bring back Tierney and we have three good players for the rest of the season with little net spend. We can also sell ESR if needed.
If you’d seen Patino play or read the glowing reports of his performances on loan(s), I think you might change your mind about him being let go, even if it enabled the acquisition of Vlahovich.
In essence I completely agree with your post Jon but I think you really meant to say “ the complete impossibility of being financially able (not unable) to spend any real money”.
GB No, I did not mean what you think. I meant exactly what I wrote!
Sorry Jon but there appears to be a double negative in your comment, ie, impossibility and unable, that’s why I perhaps misconstrued what you meant.
I read Piotr Zieliński will be a free agent in thr summer. He’s insanely experienced midfielder for Napoli, although he turns 30 in a few months time. Could do the job for us for a few seasons. Great dead ball specialist, rather quick too, got height.. A Jorginho typed player although much much quicker.
Surely Napoli would like to sell him now rather than lose for free (to another Serie A club?) in the summer?
Nice write up.
As much as we need to sign new players to revive our title bid, we are hamstrung by FFP.
A possible remedy is to bring back Marquinhos as cover for Saka, bring back Tierney to cover LB, move Zinchenko into the midfield where he belongs and loan a CF like Mitrovic.
We these additions, I believe Arsenal are good to go.
I have seen too many bad windows and poor compromises to feel positive about this window making much difference . As some have implied we’d probably end up with another center half or someone who has been passed on through one of Edu’s connections. Not much faith in the process there I know, but it is what it is and Arteta needs to get the best of the players he has available.
Buy Onana and Bakayoko
I would rather Arsenal bought NOBODY in the January window, than they buy a “Not Quite Good Enough” player who ends up on the bench for the next few years.
Again, in review, I would like us to buy Zubimendi if possible.
Play him in Havertz position, and move Havertz up front as another potential striker.
I think he will makes us much better in the second half of the season!!!!
Just my opinion