To have the strongest squad to withstand the second half of the season, Arsenal will need to have a little squad shakeup in January, with some players leaving to make way for reinforcements who can fire them to triumph.
It is worth noting that the decision to sign David Raya on loan was made in part due to Arsenal’s financial fair play restrictions. That (financial fair play) combined with Arsenal’s full 25-man team means it may be difficult for them to close any deal if players do not leave in the winter.
That being stated, who might leave? Cedric Soares, Thomas Partey, and Emile Smith-Rowe are all possible departures.
Soares has certainly fallen out of favor at Emirates. He’s only made the matchday squad once in the Carabao Cup. Emile Smith Rowe was expected to have a busy few weeks fighting for his future, but an injury has sidelined him yet again and rendered him unable to play for the time being. By January, he may not have secured a starting spot, and if a bid comes in, he may consider a fresh start, and who knows, Arsenal may cash in on him.
There’s a lot of speculation concerning Partey’s future. There is speculation that he has told the club of his wish to depart, which might result in the club profiting from him. Selling the Ghana international may be a good idea to generate funds for at least one new arrival.
Who could be signed if these three and several others I haven’t mentioned depart in January? There has been much talk regarding Arsenal pursuing Ivan Toney. I believe he is a player the Gunners should definitely be considering. Toney has been positioned as the answer to Arsenal’s offensive problems. He might certainly be that, but the concern is that Brentford will demand a high transfer fee for him.
Aside from the strikers, the midfield may use a breath of fresh air. Partey might need a fresh start elsewhere. His injury issues are becoming too much for the club. Even if a player is talented, he is useless if he is injured and misses a large portion of games that he could have influenced. Arteta should inject new life into his midfield by bringing in one of Aston Villa’s in-form Douglas Luiz or Real Sociedad’s midfield engine, Martin Zubimendi (who they’ve been linked with on numerous occasions).
Despite managing without Jurrien Timber, who was injured early in the season, Arsenal should sign a defender if a good one becomes available. Currently, they are reliant on six defenders: Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel Zinchenko, White, and Kiwior. If two of these players are injured, there may be a defensive dilemma because there will be the Champions League, FA Cup, and league to battle for.
Overall, it will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta tackles the winter transfer window; all we can hope for is that he will do everything possible to see Arsenal succeed this season.
What would you like Arteta and Edu to do in the coming transfer window?
Sam P
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I think we need decent CM and a top CF in the mode of Haaland, Toney unlike Jesus mode
CM because Partey is too injury prone and we can’t always reply on Jorginho
To try to answer the headline , exactly as written, is it plain that the ONLY way we can improve the squad in January, specifically,is to BUY some better players.
A proper top level striker, some cover for SAKA, another creative top level attacking midfielder to aid Odegaard(as both Viera and Havertz are NOT the level we need). And replacements for the constantly injured and therefore unreliable Partey and the less than good enough Jorginho.
I’d have thought all the above was OBVIOUS, personally.
Will it happen though? Almost certainly not!
If we can sign Douglas Luiz in January, we will weaken Aston Villa and increase our chances to score in dead-ball situations because of Luiz’s free-kick abilities
None of our players is as consistent as him in that aspect, so he could be a tremendous addition to our starting lineup
With Luiz in the CDM position, Rice could focus on the left-sided AM role. But I guess Arsenal will only talk to Aston Villa in the summer, after Jorginho leaves and when Luiz’s price-tag becomes more reasonable
IF this, IF that!
If’s are all very well, but what MATTERS, at least to realists, is whether or not they HAPPEN.
And in January, only very rarely do big improvements ever happen, in REALITY!
It could happen if Jorginho or Partey leaves in January
I think there is zero chance of Aston Villa weakening their team by selling Luiz in January.
Yea Gai, it isn’t realistic a competitor like Villa will let DLuize go easily he would be expensive in January so we better prioritize a CF. GJesus is injury prone we can’t always betbin Trossard or Nketiah against the likes of Liverpool, MUnited, City or NewCastle
Hi how often does my arsenal create 1v2 of a 9 v keeper. MA should get another or develop another Saka, or trousard. Not buy, as for this moment not even haaland can be effective in this team. MA wants the players on the field to play, no one standing around.
DM, a real 1
Left Back
Striker
Definitely a DM in the partey mould – one that can defend but also act as a deep lying playmaker. Jorginho has the second part, but doesn’t have the needed physical presence, which is making him inconsistent and it really effects the cohesiveness of our team and limits our attacking potential dramatically, imo. This is the biggest missing piece from last season – despite what others might think, we’re not missing xhaka so much because we’ve replaced him well with with the brilliant declan rice, but we’re really missing Thomas partey, imo.
Then ideally a striker who can compete with and offer something different to jesus. Toney would be fantastic imo, but i get the feeling we wouldn’t be able to get him.
A good striker with good finishing to complete our attack. Jesus is the perfect saka replacement.
Martinelli/Trossard
New striker/Jesus
Saka/Jesus
I want us to aim bigger than Toney but he could be the mid-season signing to win the league if he hits the ground running like trossard. A fast physical striker will force teams to re-adapt to playing us mid-season.
It will be difficult and extremely costly to find the DM we need in the winter so better focus on that in the summer.
If there is money, for three good midfielders, first class I would say the signing of Luis, one more in Rodrigo style, and another actively good cutter who can do other jobs like It would be perfect. To flank Odegaard and Rice. That way we will be able to play a vertical game not only from the wings, and the opportunities for goals will become much more. This is how it will look And the real value of the players we have to score goals. In addition, there will be a huge boost in the blocking part. I don’t think it’s an issue of transferring strikers. I also think that the Ghanaian midfielder, and Emil Smith Rowe should go yesterday. They don’t need and can’t even offer anything. That’s what I would do.
One obvious addition that would improve Arsenal squad immediately is a powerful and mobile midfielder.
BEST THING WE CAN DO IS NOT TO BUY JULIAN BRANDT WHO IS KH FRIEND!!!!!!!
AVOID AT ALL COSTS .
I think in order to fulfill FFP regulations Arsenal will need to sell before buying. We could sell 2-3 players. I think Arsenal clearly need 2 players, a striker who can deliver consistently and a defensive midfielder who can rotate with rice with Partey being mostly injured.