Why are Arsenal standing still amid Khvicha Kvaratskhelia availabilty?

"We are prepared if we need to do something, we’re capable of doing something, but then that transfer window is very tricky and difficult to control. The opportunities are very limited but we’ll be there."

Those were Mikel Arteta's words at the start of January, discussing the possibility of Arsenal conducting business this month.

'Market opportunities' is a buzzphrase Arteta likes to repeat when talking about the club's potential transfer plans, yet Arsenal are currently standing still despite the sudden availability of an affordable level-raiser in attack.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has opened the door to a departure this month. Gunners, what are we doing here? Let's move.

Why are Arsenal seemingly not interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

Romano initially reported that Paris Saint-Germain were the frontrunners for the 23-year-old's signature, with a £67m fee being discussed. David Ornstein has since had his say, adding that both Liverpool (!) and Chelsea are considering a move for Kvaratskhelia - in addition to the French champions.

This is a Premier League-leading Liverpool team that currently has the likes of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and, wait for it, Mohamed Salah available in attack. I don't even want to imagine Kvaradona at Anfield. Talk about a player built to thrive on Merseyside, the pesky crowd-pleaser.

Arsenal, on the contrary, currently boast Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus as attacking options with superstar Bukayo Saka and talented teenager Ethan Nwaneri out injured. While Scousers have enjoyed a Gakpo upsurge this term to complement Salah's inevitability, Gooners have been subject to another campaign of Martinelli mediocrity and a Trossard who left his clutch gene in 2023/24.

Saka cover is an obvious priority, while Alexander Isak recently exposed the need for a #9 of his ilk, but there's no denying that Arsenal also require an upgrade on Martinelli and Trossard down the left. We've got to accept that the former's stellar 2022/23 campaign was, in fact, a flash in the pan, while Trossard, majestic down the stretch last season, is more likely on the way down than up.

Kvaratskhelia, the inspired signing who helped catapult Napoli to their maiden Scudetto since Diego Maradona was in town, is the X-factor talent Arsenal require. We're talking about a transition monster (Arsenal are borderline inept on the counter-attack) who thrives in space but can also befuddle deep-lying defenders in one-on-one situations. He's unrelenting in his desire to affect games which can, admittedly, have a negative effect during lean periods. The Georgian can almost try too hard at times, explaining why he's only completed 19 of 72 dribbles in Serie A this season and has scored just five league goals despite averaging almost four shots per 90 minutes.

He's rough around the edges, but his work for a title-winning Napoli and a side that collapsed last season showed off what a special player he is. £67m for a 23-year-old of this calibre is peanuts, and if Arsenal have the cash to finance a deal, they simply have to get involved in the race.

If they lose out to PSG having at least made a push, fair enough, but given what's required to hand this Arsenal team the best chance of winning, standing idle while KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA is available in the JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW cannot be an option.

'Market opportunities' like these do not grow on trees midway through the season. We've been gifted a Neapolitan olive branch, and it won't be us who'll have to face Antonio Conte's wrath.

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