Arsenal: 3 positions that need reinforcing in January transfer window

The 2021/22 Premier League campaign started in horrendous fashion for Arsenal. A massive COVID outbreak before the opening game of the season and spineless showings against Chelsea and Manchester City had a number of fans calling for Mikel Arteta’s head.

While Arsenal have continued to have a few bumps in the road, they have largely impressed this season since.

The defense has looked solid and the team has begun to score more freely, tearing apart weaker opposition and even going toe-to-toe against the reigning league champions who are a team racing away with the title.

Not all supporters may think Arteta is the right man for the job but he has certainly earned their respect – and with it some more time on the touchline.

Arsenal: 3 positions that need reinforcing in the January transfer window as Mikel Arteta continues to shape his squad for the future

Part of Arteta’s allure this season has been the impressive showings by his new signings. While Raul Sanllehi frequently spoke about the need to outsmart the market – before splashing £72m on Nicolas Pepe – the summer transfers actually are a testament to a new strategy implemented in north London.

Takehiro Tomiyasu has been a revelation at right-back, providing balance and stability. Aaron Ramsdale has made the goalkeeping position his own, with his distribution being some of the best in the league. Martin Odegaard drifted in and out of the starting lineup before becoming absolutely unplayable, adding goals to his silky passing range.

The most expensive of these three revolutionary signings is Odegaard, and he cost only £35m.

Arsenal’s rebuild is truly underway. For them to continue to impress, however, high quality reinforcements must continue to be brought in. Here are three positions that need reinforcement in the winter transfer window.

3. Right-Back

This position might come as a surprise, especially given the way I have waxed lyrical about Tomiyasu above. Yet it is because of the way that the Japanese international has played this season that necessitates reinforcement. He is head and shoulders above any other right-backs currently at the club.

The fans’ reaction to him falling to the floor with injury at Elland Road tells us how important he is.

Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers are serviceable at their best and dreadful at their worst. Cedric was subbed in against Leeds and the drop off was astounding. Those two aren’t destined for the future.

What is important to keep in mind is Tomiyasu’s background. He came in this summer and hit the ground running, immediately slotting into the starting lineup. Yet it is only his first Premier League campaign. He is still getting used to playing in a faster, more physical league.

He has avoided injuries thus far but he is so integral to the way that this side plays and builds play that is forced to play every minute he can. While there is no European football this season, Tomiyasu is still racking up the minutes playing week in and week out.

Getting in a solid reinforcement behind him would allow greater rotation as he continues to adjust to the rigors of England’s top tier of football.

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2. Striker

Arsenal’s attack showed some signs that they could kick on last season. Emile Smith Rowe was throw into the deep end against Chelsea last season and hasn’t looked back since; eight Premier League goals this season speaks to the step up that he’s taken.

Bukayo Saka has come into form the last few weeks and Odegaard continues to show why Real Madrid were so keen to sign him when he was only 16.

The front line has been energetic and dynamic, largely due to the youthfulness of the players slotting in. Yet the experience of Alexandre Lacazette can’t be overlooked. He has shown great professionalism in drowning out the noise caused by the Aubameyang debacle and has done more than fill in the star striker’s boots.

He has led the high press from the front, scored and assisted key goals, dropped deep to link play and has come into his own as Arsenal captain. He’s done it all. Off the field, contract talks appear to have stalled indicating that Arsenal may have to dip into the market sooner rather than later for his reinforcement and eventual replacement.

All signs do point to a summer farewell. And with Arsenal desperate to flog Aubameyang this window, should they succeed then this position becomes vitally important, very quickly. Especially with Folarin Balogun on his way out and Eddie Nketiah attracting interest from across Europe.

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1. Central Midfield

The festive period has always posed problems for teams in the Premier League, with games coming thick and fast and no break in sight. Clubs with smaller squads or weaker benches are being punished even more this year, with AFCON taking place in January.

Thomas Partey had his best game in an Arsenal shirt against Man City and has already jet off to play for Ghana. So much for a lucky break. Even with Partey, midfield reinforcement was needed this summer, primarily in the deeper positions. With the former Atletico Madrid man gone for the next few weeks, Granit Xhaka remains the main man in the middle of the park. Well, he’s also pretty much the only man in the middle of the park.

The only other central midfield options are Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Maitland-Niles has been adequate against lower level opposition but not much more than that, and he is minutes away from joining Roma on a six-month loan deal.

Sambi possesses a great deal of potential and has shown his talent throughout the season, but is still prone to mistakes due to his age and his ongoing adjustment to the speed and physicality of the Premier League.

Getting high quality midfield reinforcement in January is crucial if Arsenal want to maintain their momentum. Mohamed Elneny, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and Maitland-Niles will all be officially off the books in the summer and as exciting as Charlie Patino may be, Arteta said himself he needs to be ‘cooked slowly’. Arsenal need midfielders. It’s as simple as that.

Yet with all of these positions, getting the right fit should take precedence over all else. More Tomiyasu’s and less Cedric’s please.