The January transfer window is upon us and Arsenal may need to do some business to help Mikel Arteta moving forward.
Arsenal’s summer business now looks pretty good; Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu have become fan favourites, Martin Odegaard is thriving and Albert Sambi Lokonga has huge potential.
There is still work for Edu and Arteta to do though, especially with a top four finish now realistic.
With that in mind, here is our five-point transfer for plan for Arsenal’s January window…
Find a suitor for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The big story surrounding Arsenal in recent weeks has been striker Aubameyang.
Aubameyang has not only lost the captaincy but is now out of the Arsenal squad.
Given that he is a huge earner – around £350,000 – Arsenal can’t afford to keep Aubameyang on the sidelines.
This has the potential to become another Mesut Ozil situation, and Arsenal have to spend this coming month trying to find an exit route for Aubameyang.
Spend big on a new striker
If Aubameyang does go, Arsenal will need to find another hitman to lead the line.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are out of contract at the end of the season and look likely to leave.
Eurosport now claim that Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic, Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin are on Arsenal’s wish list.
Signing one of them in January won’t be easy, but it will be necessary for a big striker addition to lead life after Aubameyang.
Secure a short-term midfield solution
Arsenal will face midfield issues come January. Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are both heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Arteta dented in midfield.
Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be the main players in the mix, but Arsenal need another option just to add depth.
That’s why a permanent deal for Jack Wilshere makes sense. The out-of-contract midfielder has been training with Arsenal for three months now.
Wilshere can provide another option for Arteta, though a loan move could also be an avenue for Arsenal.
Cash in on Nketiah
As mentioned earlier, Nketiah is out of contract in the summer and is set to leave Arsenal.
Nketiah has only played 38 minutes of Premier League action this season and is looking to leave.
Before Nketiah walks away from Arsenal in the summer, the Gunners would be wise to sell in January and bring in a small fee whilst they still can.
Loan out Folarin Balogun
Arsenal striker Balogun appears to have a huge future but he is in danger of stalling.
Far too good for Premier League 2 but not quite in contention for Arsenal’s first team, Balogun needs a loan move.
Spending the second half of the season in the Championship could really help Balogun’s development moving forward.
That could be a risk if Aubameyang and Nketiah go too, but just highlights how badly Edu and Arteta need to find another striker.
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