8 Players to Sign in the January Transfer Window

As the clock ticks over into 2022, the January transfer window opens. Whilst the most exciting thing for me is Don Robbie starting AFTV Transfer Daily again, there are more serious things to be dealt with: let’s look at who the Gunners could bring in to bolster their Top 4 chances.

Dusan Vlahovic:

ST – 21, Fiorentina

We are pursuing him too much to not mention him. The Serb has topped the scoring in the Serie A so far this season and is being pursued by so many of Europe’s giants. Boasting 19 goal contributions (16 G, 3 A) in 20 league appearances this season the striker is exactly what Arteta is looking for.

Standing at just over 6’2, the talisman boasts everything you could ask for from a target man: he is tall, strong and knows how to use his body, proving that he can be a threat in the box at all times. The only question that one can ask of him is his ability to hold onto and lay off the ball, which can use some work.

Valued at £70m, buying the young striker would definitely be an investment. Arsenal’s recent offer involves £46m and Lucas Torreira in a cash plus swap deal, rounding off at around £60-65m in value. If Fiorentina were to accept this, there is still a roadblock in agreeing terms with the player himself who has openly questioned the ability of Arsenal to provide top quality European football.

Alexander Isak:

ST – 22, Real Sociedad

Arsenal have been eyeing Alexander Isak for a while now. Arteta first showed interest during the Euros and with Lacazette’s contract running out and Aubameyang’s situation seemingly worsening, the Swede has a great chance of making his way to the Emirates this time around.

Isak possesses all the qualities that Arteta is looking for in a striker. He stands at around 6’3 and although isn’t the most built player, he is quite strong. This makes him the perfect candidate for the position. He showed us at the Euros that he can be the hold-up player that Lacazette had such great success being. He is terrific with the ball at his feet and can be the aerial threat in the box that would help Arsenal’s team excel.

With 9 goal contributions in 22 matches (across all competitions), he would be my number 1 target. His release clause is unfortunately £70m but as a 22 year old he has many quality years in front of him. His current price evaluation is £40m (transfermarkt.com), however I am sure he will go for more than that.

Ollie Watkins:

ST – 26, Aston Villa

Let’s keep looking at strikers. Although Watkins only stands at 5’11, he is a Premier League proven talisman. He is physical enough to get on the end of a cross in the box but also has the ability to find a way in behind the defence and be a threat.

He hasn’t played as a lone striker much this season but has still managed to bag 6 goal contributions in 16 games. Last season however, he played that position brilliantly, averaging a goal contribution in just under 2 games. The only question asked of Watkins is whether his hold-up player is at a level to which he can consistently start and work well in this Arteta team.

Even with a price evaluation of around £35m (transfermarkt.com), it is hard to say what he will go for given the English tax in the Premier League.

Jonathan David:

ST – 22, LOSC Lille

Last striker, I promise. This one’s a bit of an outside take but hear me out. David is a very similar player to the other 2 strikers on this list. Whilst he is 5’11 like Watkins, he also has the strength-agility combination that Isak does. In all honesty, I have barely watched him play. However, judging by his stats (16 G/A in 27 appearances this season, including 18 goals in 24 caps for Canada) I am sure that he is both the target man and attacking threat that Arteta could use to bolster the Arsenal attack this season.

His vast experience of playing as a lone striker only adds to his price. Valued at £50m (transfermarkt.com), this seems like a fair price for the 22 year old and could be a great option for Edu and Arteta.

Renato Sanches:

CM – 24, LOSC Lille

David’s fellow Lille teammate could be a great addition to the Arsenal midfield – not just because he has cracked cards on FIFA. Although he is only 5’7, the Portuguese possesses great strength as well as a brilliant ability to dictate play in the centre of the park.

The only problem with this potential signing is that Sanches is more of a box-to-box midfielder. The current midfield combination contains Xhaka as a more defensive-minded player, allowing Partey to be a box-to-box midfielder. Therefore, if Sanches puts pen to paper and agrees to sign with the Arsenal, it will be tricky to play both him and Partey at the same time. Can Arteta do it? That’s for him to know and us to find out. With AFCON currently going on, the lack of Partey’s availability for club adds to his case.

A £30m (as per transfermarkt.com) price tag has been placed on the midfielder, however an injury prone past may drive his price further down.

Bruno Guimaraes:

CDM – 24, Olympique Lyon

Ligue 1 is looking to be a great source of income in terms of players for Arsenal but here is another. The Brazilian midfielder has been highly rated by Edu for a while – he has a great ability to hold the ball and control possession, whilst also having a knack for disrupting and breaking off opposition play. If Edu and Arteta were to bring him to the Emirates, it seems at this point in time that he would contest Xhaka for a starting position.

Although transfermarkt.com values him at £30m, it has been reported that Lyon want closer to £40m which seems like a bit of a stretch unless he can break into the first team.

Denis Zakaria:

CDM – 25, Borussia Monchengladbach

This is the best value for money move on the list. Arsenal have been interested in the Swiss midfielder before but the hype slowly died down. This is why it should build back up.

Zakaria is a top class defensive midfielder. He likes to sit back and possesses the perfect amount of pace and an immense amount of strength to break down opposition play. He would be the perfect partner to Partey and anyone else in the midfield as it allows the box-to-box midfielder to play with freedom. He is also prolific at holding possession and having an immense presence in the middle of the pitch.

Here’s the best part: Monchengladbach are willing to let him go for just £6m before his contract runs out. SIX MILLION. If Arsenal can get this done it would be a brilliant addition to the midfield.

Jack Wilshere:

CM – 30, Free Agent

In his prime Super Jack was the ideal Arsenal midfielder under Arsene Wenger. He has been a free agent since July 2021, however there is a good chance that he can still get the job done under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal have agreed to let Wilshere train with the first team as he searches for a new club, but what if he has already found one? Arteta has commended him for his training intensity and has also noticed how the younger players look up to him as a role model in the locker room. His versatility as both a CDM and a CM only boosts his share price.

As Arsenal are without Partey and Elneny due to AFCON commitments, Wilshere looks like a great choice to sign on a 6 month deal. His price is sure to stay under £10m, making him an extremely convenient option.

Who would you like to see Edu and Arteta bring to the Emirates?