#51 - Finding a forward: 6 Arsenal could sign in January

6 forwards I think Arsenal should consider signing in January as they aim to add firepower to struggling frontlne

I think most can agree that Arsenal need to add some more firepower in January if they are to stand a chance of winning a major trophy this season.

Gabriel Jesus looks a shell of his peak performances, and Raheem Sterling hasn’t been trusted to get on the pitch when Arsenal require a goal.

That leaves just a few options for Mikel, and with the games piling up and five subs at his disposal, I’m sure Arteta will want the club to support him with investment in January.

There’s also Leandro Trossard, who has had a bit of a down season so far, and there was some talk of a Saudi club coming in for the Belgian international. I wouldn’t rule out Arsenal cashing in on one of these aging assets in January.

With long (and short) term question marks over Trossard, Jesus, and Sterling, Arsenal has just three forwards in the long-term plans: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz.

I think that shows that eventually, Arsenal require two new forwards.

All the reporting suggests Arsenal may go big for a centre-forward in the summer. The Swedish duo of Alexander Isak and Victor Gyokeres could be the hottest properties on the market in that position.

Whilst it’s not ideal to wait for that until the summer, talents of that level are sometimes worth waiting for. With that in mind, Arsenal should probably prioritise finding more pace and power on the wings.

Pedro Neto was once Arsenal’s target, and his impact against us on Sunday reminded me exactly why that’s the case.

So, who could we go for in January?

Matheus Cunha

If you follow me on X and read this newsletter, you're probably bored of hearing me go on about Cunha. I really like the Wolves forward, and aged 25, he's early prime and Premier League experienced, ready to hit the ground running.

Wolves won’t want to sell mid-season, but money talks and if enough money is put on the table to allow them to reinvest in other areas, I’m sure there’s a deal to be done. With relegation a real possibility, I can imagine the player himself would be keen on a move too.

Cunha has played a lot of football through the middle, but he’s thrived this season starting from a wider position, with Strand Larsen often central. This pair have worked well together, and you could imagine him linking up nicely with Havertz.

Ademola Lookman

A really interesting link to Lookman. He failed to light up the Premier League previously, but Lookman now appears to have matured into a top quality forward during his time at Atalanta.

Interestingly his 'similar players' according to FBref, are Saka, Leao, Diaz, Olise and Raphinha. Those are pretty much exactly the profile we need.

His shooting and chance creation metrics are nothing short of elite, and he’d certainly give us a weapon not currently in the arsenal.

We were linked with a late move for Lookman in the summer, which took many by surprise. But with 6 goals in 9 Serie A games, his continued excellent form will surely have turned more heads. He’s 27 and Atalanta would probably want a large amount of money, so that makes it tricky - but all players that will improve us will require investment. After ‘keeping the powder dry’ in the summer, the money should be there to make a big splash in the winter window.

Karim Adeyemi

Adeyemi is an interesting option who profiles much closer to Martinelli than Saka. I think he would take some adaptation time, which is far from ideal for a January signing, but I do think out of the options on this list, he has one of the highest ceilings.

He’s just 22 and looks to be making improvements season on season and now looks to be becoming a regular in the Dortmund team.

Mohamed Kudus

Arsenal wanted Kudus before he joined West Ham, and you can see why. He’s a very versatile player, comfortable combining with his teammates centrally and beating his man on either flank. You can see how he could fill in for Saka on the right, whilst also being able to offer us a very different option centrally when the game requires it.

He might be the most expensive player on this list, with an £85million release clause set to become active at the end of the season, West Ham might want even more than that to sell him in January. That’s why I struggle to see this one happening.

But there could be opportunity. West Ham are really struggling this season and a manager change before January isn’t off the cards.

Should a change of management occur, he may require funds to shape the squad his way, and a big sale for a player like Kudus could allow him that flexibility.

Simon Adingra

He’s a player I really like. The Ivorian international has struggled this season so far due to injury, not a trait we’d like to inherit, but I do think that perhaps it’s an opportunity to get him at a reduced price point.

Unlike many of the others on this list, he’s not in form, so we’re unlikely to pay a premium, but we’d be wise to invest in this player. He’s excellent 1vs1 and can play both sides. I think Arteta would really coach him into a top forward and I feel he gives us qualities not currently present in our attacking set.

Antoine Semenyo

Finally, another Premier League-ready option. Semenyo caught my eye last season and this season he’s taken his game to another level.

Again, he can play both sides, has bags of pace and power, and is Premier League-ready—a critical factor for any mid-season addition.

The Ghanain’s possession qualities are his drawback. He ranks very low on things like pass contributions and success.

Like the other Premier League options on this list, he won’t be cheap, but I do think there is a deal to be done at a reasonable price.

It’s the international break, so please comment below what you thought of this article and any suggestions you’d like to make for what you’d like me to write about next week! Thanks for reading, and please share if you enjoyed :)