Arteta has hinted at a starterplaceholder image
Arteta has hinted at a starter | Getty Images
Arsenal are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, but are they going to go again and strengthen in January?
Arsenal’s greatest strength this season has been the depth of the squad that has been assembled over the last few seasons and improved in the summer.
There was a purpose behind the recruitment in the last transfer window with Mikel Arteta now starting to see some of his experienced operators back in the matchday squad and looking to improve their fitness levels. It is a testament to the manager’s coaching and man management that he has his team in such a good position across every tournament given the injuries that he has had to contend with.
Will Arsenal be busy in January?
There are no obvious areas of weakness in Arsenal’s squad with Arteta having options across his starting XI when everyone is fit with talkSPORT’s transfer journalist Alex Crook suggesting that it could be a quiet month: “I'm not expecting Arsenal to do a lot of business. But Sam's (Matterface) right. That is quite intriguing from Michael Arteta to sort of put the ball very much in Andrea Berta's court.
“They spent 250 million quid in the summer. They bought in eight new players, but those players were not signed for when the squad became depleted. And when it is, maybe he feels he needs just that little bit extra more. So with so much at stake, would it be remiss of the club not to cover all bases?
“Absolutely. Listen, Arsenal are a brilliant run football club. They will already have a plan in place for the summer, let alone this January transfer window. They'll be assessing the market. But I'm not sure where the options are to significantly improve this squad, particularly when you are back at full kilter, when everybody is fit, because you've got Ethan Nwaneri, who's not playing many minutes, maybe will be allowed to leave alone in January. Miles Lewis-Skelly, I think he's going to stay in the building.”
Where could Arsenal look to strengthen?
Viktor Gyokeres might not have hit the ground running since moving to the Emirates but Arteta isn’t about to give up on his £64m signing just yet, he also has Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus at his disposal now too and will be able to go to plan B rather than having to ask a midfielder to move up a line. The Gunners boss also has plenty of players to choose from in the wide positions and will be able to pick on form, rather than on who is fit and available.
The defence has been stretched recently, however, it also has good numbers which leaves the midfiled as a possible area for Arsenal to look at. Aleksandar Stankovic has been linked and he would provide depth in the defensive midfield role as well as at centre-half.
Arteta has Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi who can sit in front of the back four as well as Christian Norgaard, although Stankovic is much more physical than all but Rice and could be the perfect foil for the more creative players in front of him.
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