The idea of players leaving Arsenal this January transfer window is something of a backward look at the winter market. There is such a focus on the needs regarding incomings and the squad is so damaged by injury that losing more players is very odd.
Therefore, here we focus on the potential exits that have already been linked but perhaps some surprise options that could indeed leave. The winter window is often a time where clubs will assess younger players who are not getting enough senior minutes and send them out on loan.
There is also the potential to bring in financial support from sales, which could then be reinvested in other areas of the team. With that said, here are football.london’s picks for a January departure from Arsenal.
Jakub Kiwior
There was an understanding that despite significant interest in Jakub Kiwior at the end of the summer transfer window, the club turned down approaches for the Polish international. Clubs in Italy, particularly Napoli and Juventus, were considered to be keen on the defender.
Those links have persisted and it can therefore be assumed that the giants of Serie A might indeed return in January. What is known is that while the idea of a loan has been entirely rebuffed, should a reasonable bid come in it could tempt Arsenal but they would definitely need to find a replacement and even one more to deal with the loss.
Gabriel Jesus
Mikel Arteta was quick ahead of the game with Monaco in the Champions League some weeks ago to describe the winter sale of Gabriel Jesus as ‘nonsense.’ The Brazilian had remained very much on the sidelines until a flurry of goals ahead of Christmas
Despite the rubbishing of proposed reports by Arteta and the goals, football can always surprise us and yet a bid could come in. Similar to Kiwior, a bid of a certain size will be considered by the club and could be used to reinvest in a replacement who can offer the club more especially as a striker is considered to be on the cards for the summer.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
The youth starlet has impressed in the small cameos that we have seen of him. The League Cup and against Liverpool provided a platform for the 18-year-old, who is more naturally a central midfielder, to showcase his versatility at left-back.
While injuries are frequent for now which has allowed the youngster into the side more reguarly, it might be still that minutes will be limited for Lewis-Skelly and it could be deemed that a loan move might be a beneficial option for all parties this winter, especially if a signing is made in defence too. Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko are returning from injury which will limit exposure.
Kieran Tierney
Injured for the majority of the season and were it not for him being sidelined by a hamstring problem suffered at the European Championships in the summer, he would probably have left in those warmer months.
Yet he stayed and has returned to fitness and therefore it could be a club returns to sign him this winter. With 18 months left on his deal, it could bring in a small amount depending on the volume of interest in the Scottish international despite his return and even Arteta claiming he's not thinking about leaving.
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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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