Arsenal are set to end the January transfer window quieter than many would have anticipated. Despite being in need of reinforcements in certain areas of the squad, the Gunners have opted against making major moves this month, well, unless something dramatic happens today.
This transfer window provided the perfect opportunity to add fresh legs to the team, particularly with the club competing on multiple fronts. However, Mikel Arteta had previously admitted that it would take something special to find the right player in January, suggesting that the club were always likely to be cautious in their approach.
While Arsenal remain committed to finishing the season as strongly as possible, it appears that any major additions to the squad will have to wait until the summer. With the window drawing to a close, the players who started the campaign will need to step up and help the team push for success in the remaining months of the season.
That being said, Arsenal have not entirely ruled out the possibility of making a late move should the right opportunity arise. The club are still open to signing quality players if they become available in the final hours of the transfer window. However, as things stand, it seems increasingly unlikely that fans will see any new arrivals before the deadline.
According to Mirror Football, Arsenal are instead planning a significant squad overhaul in the summer. The report suggests that midfielders Jorginho and Thomas Partey are expected to leave, paving the way for fresh additions in that area. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi has been identified as a key target, with another midfielder also likely to be signed to strengthen Arteta’s options in the centre of the pitch.
Additionally, the Gunners are expected to prioritise signing a top striker, an area they have long been looking to improve. The lack of a prolific centre-forward has been seen as one of the team’s weaknesses, and Arsenal are determined to address it once the season concludes.
While many supporters will be disappointed by the club’s inactivity in January, the decision to hold off on spending could set the stage for a major recruitment drive in the summer. However, regardless of how this season ends, Arsenal will need to deliver in the transfer market to ensure they continue progressing under Arteta’s leadership.
No overhaul, just keep adding quality numbers.
Not sure about this one now. If zubimendi is the next big thing at CDM, then great, but I’m not sure he is. TP currently is one of the best in the world for the type of football we play. I think swapping him for zubimendi would be probably alright, but is it really a risk we need to take right now? Imo we should be keeping partey a bit longer and starting to integrate Lewis Skelly into midfield from next season, with a view to him taking over – I really do see him having a comparable skillset and being ready for it within the next year. It would mean perhaps signing another new left back, but it makes me sense to me.
That said, if we’re going to struggle to keep partey for another one or two years (as opposed to another 3+ when maybe that’s not such a good idea), then maybe we’re forced to buy someone like zubimendi anyway?
Beyond that, I don’t think an “overhaul” is necessary or particularly smart – we need a CF for sure, and ideally a winger, but we don’t need to lose too many players imo. Aside from the CF position, the spine is good, and we should do everything to keep it together.
I think Arteta prefers right footed player in that Partey role. It’s more natural for a right footer to pass quickly to Saka. Partey predominantly has a bias towards the right side which suits Odegaard and Saka. Myles obviously is more comfortable on the left. That’s why I think he’d be more suited to inverted LB or left centre mid.
I agree with you completely @Davi. We must keep TP at all cost . We really need to be smart and not take unnecessary risk.
A SQUAD OVERHAUL?????????????? We have just done one and spent nigh on 800 mil doing it.
Thanks for this important observation.
Overhaul doesn’t sound the correct word. May be improvements in whatever form including dealing with departures whoever MA decides for this.
The “overhaul” will apply to around 6 fringe players and loanees and Jorjinho rather than first team picks and why we need Zubemendi when we could retain Partey does not make sense to me..To improve our inner first team options we certainly need a central striker and an athletic box to box operator such as Beleba of Brighton who was badly missed by them in the thrashing from Forrest.
Grandad, what do we need the most? Zubimendi or a striker? Partey is light years better than Zubimendi and we are desperate for a striker. I worry now we have lost Edu.
Partey will be 32 though even if he signs a new contract. Do you think we should be depending on him alone? Getting Zubimendi shouldn’t mean not getting a striker. City got Rodri when they still had aging Fernandinho who was still performing at a high standard. It’s not about who is better but having two good players in one position to call upon.
I don’t rate Zubimendi. He is more Joughino than Partey. Partey dominates The other two don’t. They rely on others to cover their weaknesses and rely on their passes. You have no need to tell me how old Partey is. For NEXT season we need Partey and Striker.
Every player has strengths and weaknesses. Let’s not forget that peak Jorginho was voted UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2021 for his performances at Chelsea and Italy. He placed 3’rd in Ballon d’Or. He still had these weaknesses but he and Kante complemented each other well.A younger Jorginho would improve our squad.We need Partey, we need Zubimendi and we need a striker-simple as that.
A striker is a priority for me Reggie but with Jorjinho on his way back to Brazil at the end of the season I would like him replaced with someone with “legs” who can provide drive and energy to our engine room.While Zubemendi is a very efficient DM ,he does not have the physicality to dominate in the Premier League imo, whereas Partey can still do this as he proved to everyone yesterday.An overhaul will be necessary to replace the likes of Lokonga,Vieira,Tomi, Tierney(sad ly) Zinchenko,Jorjinho, and probably Kwior.
I don’t know about you Grandad but I think we already have the best box to box midfielder in the Epl,possibly in the world. He is as athletic as they come. His name: Declan Rice. In the second half of last season and over the past few weeks we’ve seen what Rice offers as a box to box operator.
I see Zubimendi as the replacement for Partey. Whether or not Partey is retained, he will be 32 soon and require replacing. Surely having two good players in the same position is a good thing.Zubimendi is one of the best in the world at what he does and it’s important to get him early because we’re not the only ones after him.
No, he is one of the best in Spain. But so was Merino and he is struggling.
Partey and Rodri were also some of the best in Spain. They didn’t struggle in EPL. What’s your point? For a struggling Merino you can name ten players who came from Spain and dominated the PL. Alonso,Mata,Silva,Cazorla…Need I go on?
In addition,Zubimendi has performed well outside of La Liga in continental cups. Seamlessly replaced Rodri,the best midfielder in the world,for Spain in the Euros.
Liverpool,Real Madrid,Barcelona and Bayern have all pursued this guy. If he isn’t as good as you’re alluding to,five of the biggest clubs in world football wouldn’t be queuing up for his signature. Liverpool tried everything to get this guy. Sorry Reggie, but maybe there’s something all these top coaches see that you don’t.
Truth is he never starts ahead of Rodri and he not good enough, in my opinion. I didn’t think Merino was and I don’t think Zubimendi is. Partey and Rodri have performed to a higher standard in the league and CL than Zubimendi.
I have Spanish friends who are RM supporters and they did want Zubimendi.
Sorry, did NOT want Zubimendi.
Well,who would start ahead of Rodri? Do you think Partey would start ahead of Rodri if he played for Spain?Truth is,whenever he starts he’s been quality. We can’t assess Zubimendi’s quality based on comparisons to Rodri and Partey. That’s lazy analysis. We need to look at him as an individual. What does he bring? What is he good at? How does he fit into our system? As well,what are his flaws?
I respect your opinion but I don’t agree with it. Why would top clubs like Arsenal,Liverpool,Bayern,Barca and Liverpool pursue a player who is supposedly not good enough? If I had your opinion on one hand and the opinions of the scouts of these five clubs on the other, I know which one I’d take more seriously.
Because we have the second best and city the best.
Oh and Liverpool don’t want Zubimendi anymore. They have moved on.
Obviously it’s because of the revelation of Gravenberch. Doesn’t change the fact that they actively tried to sign.
And you named 4.
5 including us.
No you cant count, 4!!!
Look,you don’t rate Zubimendi. It’s okay.I do rate him and so do many others. We don’t have to agree. There’s really no reason to labour the point.
But Partey was starting ahead of Rodri at Atletico hence they let Rodri leave to City.(People forget this) Partey has always been the better player, as I have said before Rodri is a system player but Partey can play in all system. I didnt say this Simone who had both said it.
When there are outgoings it usually equates with incomings
A point I made in a different article was Pep relied too heavily on what he had and didn’t refresh the squad. You cannot stay still
I’m not sure overhaul is the right word. Our team is really good and relatively young. We need a few key additions,that’s all.In addition to Zubimendi,I think we do need a striker and a star left winger. The rest of the signings will probably be squad players.
Declan Rice is multi talented and is comfortable as a DM or BtoB and indeed can operate as a centre back where he started his career.Ideally,next season our 6 midfielders should consist of Partey, Rice, Merino and Beleba with Odegaard and Havertz the main attacking midfield options.From what I have seen of him MLS could well develop into an effective central midfielder so he would provide another string to our Manager’s bow for a place in the engine room.In practical terms however it would seem that Zubemendi has been lined up to replace Partey who is one of the best players I have seen in an Arsenal shirt.
While Baleba is a fine midfielder,I feel like we need more technique in our midfield. Every team needs a passing metronome. Jorginho is exactly that but he has flaws which means we can’t see it consistently. With Jorginho gone,that particular skillset needs to be replaced and Zubimendi is the best person to do it imo.
Currently we rely a lot on Odegaard to control the tempo of the game- this is why we struggle in his absence. Zubimendi is the kind of player who can set the tempo of a game. Baleba,like Rice is not that kind of player. They are more like Kante, who worked so well with Jorginho.
While physicality is an important trait in midfield, it needs to be balanced with technique.