Gunners focus switches to crucial January window
While the summer transfer window may have only just shut, Arsenal fans are already looking towards a January window that could have huge consequences on any hopes the club has of winning this year’s Premier League title.
Despite the club coming off the back of a summer transfer window in which Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy have all arrived at the Emirates, Arsenal fans know this squad is probably still a central defender and a defensive midfielder away from being genuine title contenders with operators like Betfair.
With the transfer window now closed until the beginning of 2015, the hope for Arsenal is that the current squad are still in touch with the league leaders by the time Arsene Wenger has the chance to add the missing pieces to the team.
After a convincing win against Aston Villa, there might be some who feel there isn’t a pressing need for any additions, but the comprehensive defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League highlighted the areas where this Gunners squad is lacking. From the central defence to the holding area of midfield, there is little doubt those issues need addressing if we’re going to add another trophy to the cabinet this year.
After allowing , Arsenal fans will feel frustrated to find themselves still short of defensive cover now that the season is well and truly underway, but there is still time for Wenger to make up for his mistakes this summer. While Danny Welbeck’s arrival has covered the injury of Olivier Giroud, Debuchy’s injury has left the Gunners seriously exposed in the unforgiving surroundings of the Premier League and the Champions League.
So, who could be top of Wenger’s shopping list by the time the January window comes around?
Chris Smalling
Arsenal’s need for a central defender was highlighted by the lack of one on the bench for the recent victory over Aston Villa. Wenger has been linked with a move for England defender Chris Smalling for a number of years, beaten in the race to sign the youngster from Fulham by Manchester United in 2010 and reportedly turned down when approached this summer. While Arsenal are short of defensive options, United are hardly blessed when it comes to centre backs and that issue was made glaringly obvious in the 5-3 humbling at the hands of newly-promoted Leicester – in a game Smalling didn’t come out well in.
But despite his disappointing start to the season, the 24-year old has proven himself to be a very reliable defender in the Premier League and would be an ideal addition to these Arsenal defensive ranks. With Debuchy out for up to three months, a player with the versatility of Smalling could have been a lifesaver for Arsenal in the run-up to Christmas. It remains to be seen whether or not Wenger will go back in for Smalling in January, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.
Adrien Rabiot
French youngster Adrien Rabiot is reportedly on Wenger’s radar as the Arsenal boss looks to solve the defensive midfield issue that has long plagued him. The Paris Saint Germain midfielder has been monitored by Wenger for some time and a move for the 19-year old could be on the cards come January. Entering the final 12 months of his contract in Paris, PSG could be tempted to cash in on the teenager in January should the offers come rolling in. After struggling for game-time in a star-studded PSG midfield, Rabiot has made it clear he feels he may need to leave the French giants in order to play more first team football.
As well as Arsenal, Italian clubs Roma, AC Milan and Juventus are both rumoured to be in the race to sign the France Under-21 star. While Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta have both been tasked with playing in that deep-laying role just in front of the defence, neither have been able to really provide the sort of attributes Rabiot has shown he brings to a team.
by While Wenger might have wanted to wait until January before adding more faces to his squad, there is a chance the Frenchman is tempted to act now and sign a free agent in order to fill the gaps caused by injuries and keep his team in the mix. The market might not be full of free agents capable of stepping in and doing a job for Arsenal right away, but there are a few interesting options available to Wenger should he look at the free agency.
Joseph Yobo
Not the most glamorous name out there but Joseph Yobo could well solve Wenger’s centre back headaches. With Chambers now needed to fill in at right-back, Arsenal find themselves out of senior central defenders and forced to look at the academy. At 34-years-old, Yobo might not be the young defender Arsenal fans were calling out for this summer, but the Nigerian would bring a level of experience to a defence that needs it. After 10 years in the Premier League with Everton, Yobo spent a year in Turkey with Fenerbahce before returning to England last year on loan with Norwich. The Yobo who we saw for the Canaries last year wasn’t the same individual who was one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders for almost a decade, however, and the Nigerian wouldn’t be the most reassuring signing Wenger could make.
Diego Lugano
Another experienced option for Wenger could be Uruguay captain Diego Lugano. While the 33-year-old endured a disappointing spell with West Brom last season, the veteran defender was one of his country’s most impressive performers at last summer’s World Cup in Brazil and could possibly do a job for the Gunners this season, or at least until January. The former PSG defender is clearly not the player he was five years ago and his season with the Baggies last year showed his limitations, but 95-cap international captains don’t grow on trees and Lugano could well be an ideal stop-gap for Wenger over the next few months. The main worry regarding signing Lugano – and Yobo, for that matter – is that they would be playing alongside Per Mertesacker. With so many fast attackers in the league, Arsenal fans would be rightly worried about having two less-than-mobile central defenders.
Lassana Diarra
Following his departure from Lokomotiv Moscow in the summer, former Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra could be set for a shock return to the Emirates on a free transfer in order to add some defensive midfield options for Wenger. Still just 29-years-old, Diarra has gained a lot of experience since leaving Arsenal in 2009 and could be a very useful signing for the north London club. With a C.V. boasting the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, alongside his brief spell with the Gunners, Diarra clearly has what it takes to play at the highest level. While the Frenchman may have slipped off the majority of English football fans’ radars during his time in Russia with Anzhi and Lokomotiv, the former Portsmouth midfielder would be a relatively risk-free signing for Wenger at this point in the season. And while Diarra could initially be viewed as a short-term solution, the 29-year-old is still young enough to warrant a longer deal should he take his chance.
