Three areas Arsenal could strengthen in January

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With the January transfer window now open, Arsenal may look to add to their squad as they aim to keep their title hopes alive.

With the race for the Premier League title now hotting up, the division’s top clubs will be looking at the now open January transfer window as a huge opportunity. As Chelsea now begin to move further and further away from the chasers at the top of the league, teams such as Arsenal will surely be looking to add to their squad this month as they search for a way to propel themselves after their London rivals.

But where do the Gunners need to improve? As a club famous for being blighted by injuries, Arsenal fans will be fully aware how important it is to have plenty of bodies as we move into the final months of the Premier League campaign. However, Arsene Wenger, who isn’t known for bringing in numbers of players in transfer windows, will be conscious of the unsettling factor adding lots of new faces can have, and will be aware that many of his injured players will soon be back fit.

With this and mind, we’ve taken a look at three key areas Arsenal could do with strengthening this month, and throw out some possible names of players they could look to bring in.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

A Midfield General

Despite adding impressive young Swiss midfielder, Granit Xhaka, over the summer, Arsenal are still lacking a bit of bite in the centre of the park. For years, Arsenal fans have been crying out for a Viera-type midfielder: someone who can put in both crunching tackles as well as moving the ball around quickly and pitching in with the occasional goal. One player who tickets plenty of these boxes, is Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic, a deep-flying playmaker who can perform a role both offensively and defensively. However, the Gunners may end up looking a bit closer to home, with some Arsenal fans calling for popular midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be given a chance to fulfil this role.

Juventus’ Miralem Pjanic in action with Ryan Mason

A New Full-Back

A position in which Arsenal are famous for picking up constant injuries, the Gunners may well be looking for more defensive options in January. Currently fielding Hector Bellerin and right-back and Nacho Monreal at left-back, Arsenal are currently reasonably strong in these positions. However, should injuries occur, Arsenal would be forced to turn to the out-of-favour Mathieu Debuchy and Kieran Gibbs; a pair who have been somewhat unconvincing for the Gunners in the past.

Arsenal’s Mathieu Debuchy warms up

A World Class Forward

Without a doubt, this position as been the most glaringly obvious area in which the Gunners have needed to improve over recent years. With their current options, Arsenal are arguably far weaker than rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham in the forward areas, with Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez. If Arsenal are going to catch Chelsea this season, they will need a goalscorer of the highest quality, and may well be forced to look abroad for striking options.

With Antoine Griezmann being linked with a move away from Spain nearly ever day now, could the London club sneak in before anyone else and bring him in? Wenger would have to splash the cash, but after the acquisitions of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in recent years, the Arsenal manager has proven that he’s not afraid to spend big in the player is important enough.

France’s Antoine Griezmann in action