Arsenal have dealt with their fair share of issues this season as they continue to battle for a Premier League title, having made a great start to their Champions League campaign.
But it's not all gone to plan for Mikel Arteta and his side. Injuries have cost them this season, with Martin Odegaard's time out of the team with an ankle injury proving costly. Elsewhere, the defence has struggled in recent weeks with injuries to key men.
The likes of Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been out for long stretches this season, while the Gunners are only beginning to feel the benefit of Jurrien Timber's arrival this year after he missed almost the entirety of his first season in north London with a knee injury.
Thomas Partey has been a regular sight at full-back in the last few weeks. And while it's perhaps a freak occurrence to get so many injuries in the same area of the pitch, it already looks unlikely that Tomiyasu, for example, will be signing a big extension to his contract, which expires at the end of next season.
There are a number of players the Gunners could target to solve an issue of injuries at the back, but who are some of the standout candidates, and perhaps an absolute bargain they could secure in January? football.london takes a look below...
Jeremie Frimpong
The Bayer Leverkusen full-back has been in outstanding form for some time, and like his compatriot Timber, he can play at both right-back and left-back. The 24-year-old would likely command a decently-sized transfer fee if a deal could be agreed in January, but he would definitely be a player worth considering if the Gunners are in the market.
Rico Lewis
Perhaps a surprise candidate, but like Frimpong, Rico Lewis' talent and also his versatility could be a huge addition to Arsenal's team. While the Gunners may not have got the best out of either Gabriel Jesus or Oleksandr Zinchenko since they arrived from Manchester City, Lewis looks much more of a player keen to play in Arteta's style.
Lewis has a contract at City until 2028, so his current club would hold the cards when it comes to negotiations. But that didn't stop them selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea 18 months ago. The Gunners could potentially offer Lewis more playing time than he has received at the Etihad Stadium, and City have shown they are willing to let players leave if they receive what they consider a fair price.
Joshua Kimmich
The bargain option of the trio, Joshua Kimmich would similarly add plenty of positional flexibility to the side, as well as a wealth of experience as he is now in his 10th season at Bayern Munich.
However, the 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and so is allowed to begin negotiating over a free transfer in January to clubs at the end of the season.
While his age may play against him in any scouting reports, Kimmich has a host of experience in lifting trophies, and has played under a variety of managers in Germany including Pep Guardiola, so he may not need too much time adapting to the Gunners' style under Arteta.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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