Arsenal: 5 transfer moves to revisit in January window

Where to next? The season now officially starts as the games prior to the window closing obviously don’t count, with Mikel Arteta boasting an Arsenal squad more in tune with what he believes is capable of launching a meaningful assault on the European places.

Which European place that may be is open for interpretation as sitting bottom of the Premier League table with no points and no goals scored might have revised a few predictions before a ball was kicked.

The squad is in far better nick than it was without being anywhere near the quality required to be challenging for top four. Realistically, top six is also seemingly out of reach barring a significant turnaround.

Is this squad capable of getting back into the Europa League places? The more telling question is whether the manager is capable of achieving that with what he has.

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Arsenal: 5 transfer moves that could be revisited in January window as Mikel Arteta and Edu still have work to do despite busy summer market

All of the new additions barring one or two will need time to integrate and make that dream a reality, yet come January it may be too late, as it was last season, to find form and start pushing up the Premier League table.

Given there are still holes in this squad that are calling out for a serious injection of quality, as well as certain players still in need of being moved on, the January window could pose another opportunity for movement, whether in or out.

It’s a dreadfully difficult window to navigate through in the best of times, so throwing in the addition of the current climate and club finances, it may prove beyond their reach.

Knowing Arsenal have areas in mind and seeing that there are others who still have to be sold, there is no harm in exploring a few avenues when the new year comes around. Here are some transfer moves to revisit.

1. Central Midfield

With Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny due to jet off to AFCON at the turn of the year, Arsenal will be left with just three central midfielders to choose from.

Unfortunately, both are part of international teams who are expected to do well in the tournament.

Ghana and Egypt are among the stronger of the sides taking part in Cameroon and if injury or COVID-19 absences strike then Arteta is left even thinner in the midfield department than he already will be.

If fit it will be a duo of Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka with just Ainsley Maitland-Niles to provide cover. Depending on availability, the club’s hand may be forced in January.

Known that midfield is set to feature prominently over the course of the coming windows, while the coming summer will be the preferred window to tackle any potential transfers there is no doubting that plans are already in place in case January can spring a surprise.

Of all possible incomings during the winter window, this is the one that has the best chance of being seen to.