Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League and are eager to enhance their prospects of claiming silverware through shrewd acquisitions during the January transfer window. Mikel Arteta has been at the helm since 2019, relentlessly pursuing the league crown throughout his tenure. The Gunners have secured runner-up finishes in three straight campaigns under the Spanish tactician, but currently spearhead the division this term.
Arteta is optimistic that his January recruits will propel the North London side to their first title since 2004. Yet how might we anticipate which players the manager will pursue during the transfer window, and could he draw lessons from previous dealings? Here, Express Sport examines Arteta's first five acquisitions as Arsenal boss and how this might offer clues about the Spaniard's intentions this month.
Pablo Mari
Pablo Mari became Arteta's inaugural signing at Arsenal, arriving on loan in January 2020 through to the end of the season. Despite his modest game time at the club, even following the permanent nature of his contract that summer, his adaptability demonstrated precisely what the manager desires at the Emirates.
Mari arrived as a left-footed centre-back and was viewed as the player to "balance" the defensive unit under Arteta. When announcing his capture, the Arsenal manager declared: "For me, he is very important, he balances what I want to do from the back line.
"It gives us more options, more solutions and opens up the pitch more, and he is a player we have been following in the last few months, and we are really happy to have."
Following just 22 outings in an Arsenal jersey, Mari departed for Serie A outfit Monza after a successful loan spell in 2023.
Cedric
The next arrival was full-back Cedric, who likewise joined Arsenal on loan in January 2020. The defender was viewed as the club's answer to their fragile right-back situation and possessed the ability to operate at left-back and right midfield too.
With injuries sidelining Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers, defensive midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles was deputising at right-back, prompting Arteta to seek a more natural fit for the role.
Speaking about Cedric, he remarked: "He's a player who's got a big experience. He's played in different countries, he's played in this league, he knows what it means.
"He's very willing to go to another top club and he's got that desire, that commitment. I followed him a few seasons ago, I started to follow him and I really like what he can bring. They were the right conditions for us as well to try to improve the squad."
The defender featured in 64 matches for the Gunners and became a crucial figure throughout the 2021/22 campaign. Whilst Cedric spent most of his Arsenal stint at right-back, he also turned out 10 times at left-back and six occasions in midfield, demonstrating the adaptable qualities Arteta valued in his squad.
Alex Runarsson
Whilst Alex Runarsson's stint with Arsenal was not memorable, it certainly illustrates Arteta's philosophy regarding squad competition. The goalkeeper managed just six outings for the Gunners and failed to win over the supporters.
His Arsenal appearances included only a solitary 15-minute substitute appearance in the Premier League during a 2-1 defeat to Wolves after regular keeper Bernd Leno received his marching orders.
Though Runarsson's North London chapter wasn't particularly successful, Arteta's emphasis on player competition strongly suggests he values squad depth and expects his players to battle for their starting berths.
Willian
Willian switched allegiances across London during the summer of 2020, departing Chelsea for Arsenal on a free transfer. A seasoned Premier League champion with the ability to operate across the front line, he appeared to be an ideal acquisition for Arteta's squad.
Nevertheless, following 37 appearances yielding just one goal and seven assists, the Brazilian failed to meet expectations at the Emirates. Yet Arteta was effusive in his praise when discussing Willian's arrival, outlining precisely what he sought from the attacker.
Arteta declared: "I believe he's a player that can really make a difference for us. We have been monitoring him for the past few months, we had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions.
"He is a player that gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in three or four different positions. He has the experience of everything in the football world, but to still have the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs."
Gabriel Magalhaes
Gabriel's acquisition in 2020 proved to be the catalyst for Arsenal's defensive renaissance. The Brazilian centre-back stands as the most triumphant recruit amongst these signings, cementing his place as an automatic starter under Arteta's guidance.
Since joining the North London outfit, the defender has featured in 230 matches across all competitions, netting 24 goals, including four strikes this campaign as the Gunners pursue Premier League glory.
Gabriel has become indispensable in anchoring one of the division's most formidable defensive units in recent years, embodying everything Arteta demands from his backline - physical presence, dependability, and a lethal threat from dead-ball situations.
Supporters can draw inspiration from these acquisitions when anticipating that Arteta will prioritise adaptability and consistency in his January recruitment drive, alongside players capable of intensifying competition throughout the squad.