#50 - What Arsenal need to do in January to win a major trophy

I take a look at all areas of the squad and recommend realistic targets for Arsenal to pursue in the winter window and who should be shifted.

We may only be nine games into the Premier League season, but we are just two months from the transfer window reopening. With the games and injuries piling up already, and Arsenal sitting five points off the pace, it got me thinking, what does the club need to do in January to win a major trophy this season?

After all, Arsenal sold more than they bought in the summer, so there should be room for a significant signing or two, if the opportunity presents itself in January.

Goalkeeper and Defence

Arsenal look well stocked in goal, with Tommy Setford seemingly the third choice behind on-loan Neto and undisputed number one David Raya.

In defence, Arsenal have a lot of numbers. They’ve been unfortunate with injuries to date. In Jurrien Timber and Ben White, we have two top options at right-back. White and Timber can cover for William Saliba when required and Riccardo Calafiori can do the same for Gabriel. With Myles Lewis-Skelly moving up the pecking order, Arsenal could probably spare at least one of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Takehiro Tomiyasu can cover across the back four but he needs to get fit. Arsenal need to decide to sell or loan at least one of Tomiyasu, Kiwior and Zinchenko in January - the same can be said for Tierney. Long term, I think Arsenal should be selling three of those four, and bringing in one more reliable player to complete an elite set of defenders. Ajax youngster Jorrell Hato has long been a mooted target.

Verdict: In terms of January, sell or loan one of two of them to free up wage space for arrivals elsewhere, and move for someone like Hato in the summer.

Midfield

This is really interesting because so far, Thomas Partey has proven to be much more reliable than in previous years. Both he and Jorginho have contracts that only run until the end of the season currently, meaning foreign clubs could be in talks with them from January. I expect Arsenal to make a decision to extend one of them for a year or two, and given Partey’s form, you’d expect it to be him.

Until the end of the season, this duo, in conjunction with Declan Rice and the more emergency options of Lewis-Skelly or Timber leave Arsenal well-stocked in deep midfield.

Not for January, but if Arsenal do want another central midfielder, in the summer I would look very closely at Lamine Camara - who has been excellent for Monaco this season.

In the more attacking midfield roles, Martin Odegaard’s absence has seen Trossard and Havertz successfully combine as almost duo false-9’s, while Ethan Nwaneri has began to come into the fold. Then there’s Mikel Merino, who looked good against Liverpool and his box-to-box qualities offer a nice option in the heart too.

I still think the midfield set needs an option like Eberechi Eze, or in that mould. Arsenal let both Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira leave, and I think there’s room for a creative player that can play centrally and wide. Finding that option in January may be tough, but securing such a signing could be the difference in silverware or not.

What I don't want to see is Trossard used on the left too much, a new signing here would allow Leo to spend more time centrally where he is more effective.

Verdict: Look to sign a creative player who can play as an 8 and wide. Someone in the mould of Eze, or Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche.

Forwards

Arsenal’s injuries to date have been clustered in defensive areas, but it got me thinking, if the team were to face such an issue in attack, we’d be looking really short.

Raheem Sterling has so far struggled to make an impact, and Gabriel Jesus cannot hit rhythm and has repeatedly injured himself.

That leaves Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka as our only forwards.

As the games begin to stack up, and the need for impact off the bench, Arsenal won’t really be able to afford injuries to one of those four, let alone two or three of them. We saw how much the team missed Saka.

There were some rumours about Jesus going back to Brazil and with January aligning with the start of their season, if Arsenal were to find the right forward, I wouldn’t rule out Jesus being allowed to move on.

Verdict: My instinct here is that Arsenal will hold out until the summer and then go all out to sign Aleksandr Isak and subsequently let Jesus leave. I’m not at all against that approach, but do feel if we hold off on the attacking signing, we should push ahead with the previously mentioned wide creator signing.

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Overall I think Arsenal need to ensure they make one significant signing, be it a wide creator or a forward. If the right players are available, then a signing in both areas would be great.

I’ve always wanted Raphinha, but his form at Barcelona makes a sale impossible. Nico Williams also won’t leave in January. Crystal Palace could listen to a sizeable offer for Eberchi Eze and he’d be ready to hit the ground running, being Premier League experienced.

A cheaper option could be 22-year-old Maghnes Akliouche, he’s starred for Monaco this season on the right but can play as an 8 or on the left.

If we go more for a centre forward, and repurpose Jesus as predominantly a wide player, I really like the links to Charles De Ketelaere. He’s in the Havertz mould, thriving as a false 9 or number 10. He pairs elite passing and creativity with diligent defending. Such a signing would take the reliance off of Havertz, who currently holds the keys to the way we play.

Wolves would probably want a lot of money for him in January, but another Premier League-ready option is Matheus Cunha. I am a huge fan of his and he could play in three or four positions for us.

In terms of outgoings, they need to thin out the injury-prone options in defence, with cashing in on a good offer for Jakub Kiwior very possible - as his value keeps falling, and a loan for Kieran Tierney to get some value back likely. If Arsenal can find a buyer for Oleksandr Zinchenko, then they may have the space to activate a move for long-term target Jorrell Hato.

Ultimately no major signing is easy in January, but Arsenal have kept their powder dry and to win the major titles, you need to be willing to make big moves mid-season. Edu should already be lining up something that could help Arsenal get over the line.