Arsenal are top of the Premier League and will be looking to strengthen in the January transfer window to ensure they can hold off the challenge of Manchester City
Dylan James
09:30, 25 Dec 2025
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
View 3 Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hoping to retain the lead at the top(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Arsenal are currently leading the pack and are poised to compete on all fronts next year. Despite the looming threat of Manchester City, Mikel Arteta's squad are proving to be a formidable force this season.
As of Christmas Day, they hold a two-point lead over Pep Guardiola's team, with Aston Villa hot on their heels in third place. Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool have had a less-than-stellar campaign and pose little threat to the Gunners, who are eyeing their first league title in over two decades. Last summer saw several high-profile arrivals, including Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, who have added extra firepower to Arteta's arsenal.
Despite their current position at the summit, Arsenal will be all too aware of City's relentless pursuit. If they maintain their lead, they'll spend the remainder of the season glancing nervously over their shoulder.
To widen the gap between themselves and the chasing pack, Arsenal may look to bolster their ranks in the January transfer window, bringing in additional reinforcements to strengthen their title bid. In this piece, we examine what an ideal January transfer window might entail for the Gunners.
Signing £40m midfielder
Securing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille would represent an excellent start to the January transfer window. The 18-year-old midfielder is an exceptionally gifted prospect who would not only offer supporters a tantalising preview of what lies ahead, but also hand Arteta additional choices in the engine room.
Arsenal are reportedly willing to table just under £40m for the French under-21 international, who has also caught the attention of PSG, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille OSC battles for the ball with Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Lille OSC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Stade Pierre Mauroy on October 5, 2025
View 3 Images
Ayyoub Bouaddi has been impressing in France(Image: Getty Images)
In previous remarks, the player stated: "I have extended until 2029 and next year is still far away. I am focused on this season and we have things to fight for.
"As I also said to the president (Olivier Létang), at the end of the season, there will be a choice to be made, and anything can happen. We don't know what will happen."
Considering the Gunners' squad depth, Bouaddi is hardly essential next month. However, they can now afford to be ambitious and stay one step ahead regarding future acquisitions.
AC Milan double transfer
As part of the club's youth-focused recruitment approach, Arsenal are supposedly keen on a twin raid for AC Milan pair Davide Bartesaghi and Lorenzo Torriani, per Calciomercato.
Bartesaghi is a 19-year-old left-back whilst Torriani is a 20-year-old goalkeeper. Both players have featured for the senior side and are exceptionally well-regarded.
Davide Bartesaghi of AC Milan
View 3 Images
Davide Bartesaghi is on Arsenal's radar(Image: Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
If any transfers are to materialise, they're more likely to occur in the summer, but we're indulging in transfer window fantasies here. Given Arsenal's recent trend of signing a host of top-tier players in their prime, it would be a shrewd move to target a few younger talents under their new strategy.
Indeed, this approach could safeguard them from excessive spending in future. Moreover, making moves in January could afford them the opportunity to finalise deals before other clubs show interest in the pair.
Article continues below
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!
By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.
To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!
If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.