Three positions Arsenal may need to strengthen in the January transfer window

MA

Three positions Arsenal may need to strengthen in the January transfer window

By Oscar Maung-Haley


Arsenal are riding a bit of a wave of positivity right now.

So what better way to spend the international break than muse on where the Gunners could improve during the January transfer window.

Goals, goals, goals


AL PEA

It’s safe to say one thing that has been lacking at the Emirates this season has been goals.

The Gunners have managed to conjure up five league goals this season, with three of them coming in their north London derby demolition of Spurs – not great given there’s been seven games so far in the Premier League this season.

So, how do you solve a problem like that Mikel? Sign a striker!

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t quite yet managed to find his shooting boots this season and is set to depart the Emirates in January to help Gabon in their African Cup of Nations campaign.

Therefore, adding a striker in January makes sense.

Sure, Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun could shoulder some of the striker weight at the Emirates.

But with Aubameyang and Lacazette both now in their 30s, and with Nketiah and Balogun still unproven, finding a striker who could reinforce and improve the Gunners' forward line should be a must in January.

You shall not pass

bw

You can never have enough good centre backs.

Arsenal have two strong ones in Ben White and Gabriel.

Behind them however, the quality in the cupboard is bare.

Of course, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari are undoubtedly Premier League standard footballers.

But are they depth options that will help Arsenal push for honours? Probably not.

Takehiro Tomiyasu can operate at centre back but has seemingly made right back his primary spot, meaning that Arsenal should look to improve their depth behind White and Gabriel.

Good defenders don’t come cheap, as highlighted by White’s £50m transfer fee, but if the right upgrade on their current depth is there, Arsenal must pounce.

The engine room

TP

When fit, Arsenal have a core of players that could really help bring them back to prominence within the Premier League.

However, some of that core are more dependable than others.

Thomas Partey will be one of Arsenal’s key players for seasons to come.

But so far during his Emirates career, he has spent quite a bit of time on the treatment table.

There’s no doubt that Albert Sambi Lokonga’s development could help the Gunners out in this regard.

But Partey’s injuries have left Arsenal threadbare in the centre of the park at times.

Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka cannot be relied upon on a consistent basis.

Arsenal should look to add a classy midfielder who could improve the first XI and push Partey if they become available in January.

PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES

Popular posts from this blog

What have we learned from Arsenal's pre-season so far?

Image
  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more