Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny the January ‘signing’

The January transfer window is largely used for teams to make a push in the latter half of the season. In Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal already have their first winter ‘acquisition’.

When Arsenal first started the season, there was a fairly clear and stated ambition: ‘progress’. What that looks like was never really spelled out, but you could deduce that Ivan Gazidis and the club believed that the first step was to rejoin the top four and the Champions League.

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Now, three months into the new season, the Gunners are still within touching distance of that goal. They sit in fifth position, just three points behind Spurs and with a North London Derby on the horizon. That goal of finishing in the top four is still very much a possibility.

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However, to do so, they may need that little extra push over the final months of the season. This is a highly competitive league and every advantage that can be eeked out is worth it. That includes the much-maligned January transfer window, which is best used to acquire short-term, quick-fix solutions to immediate problems for the second half of the season.

Thankfully for Arsenal, they have already made their first January ‘signing’.

Club captain Laurent Koscielny will return to action in the coming weeks. Unai Emery, speaking prior to last weekend’s draw with Wolves, confirmed it:

"“The most important is his feeling every day and that he can feel better at each training. He is close to being with us and also (playing) in the competition games but, at the moment, we are happy with him, he is feeling well. He is getting better every day and we are going to think after the internationals.  I hope we can continue working and start to think about him playing games.”"

Koscielny’s return will very much feel like a new signing. Although it will take time him some time to settle back into the rigours of regular first-team football, his presence in the dressing room will be a welcome sight for the whole squad.

It would be surprising to see him feature in the Premier League before the Christmas schedule. Emery will most likely ease him into the action with the upcoming Europa League matches that mean very little with Arsenal already qualified for the knockout stages. There is also an EFL Cup quarter-final against Spurs in December. Koscielny could well start that match too.

But by the time January rolls around and Arsenal’s attention turns to making a run in the latter months of the season, the French centre-half should be fully prepared for regular playing time. All being well, he will be match sharp.

Koscielny could have a very comparable impact to a January signing. Short-term, immediate, quick-fix, but not long-lasting. He is the perfect player to welcome back into the fold halfway through a season.