Sport
Arsenal must be careful not to disrupt team harmony with January transfers
Not even Mikel Arteta could have envisaged Arsenal would be in this position this far into the season. The Gunners were on a steady upward trajectory before the start of the 2022/23 campaign, but they have taken a gigantic leap forward in their development since the summer with Arteta’s side five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal have been the best team in the Premier League so far this season with their on-pitch chemistry clear to anyone who has watched them play over the last few months. This is why Arteta must be careful not to upset the dynamic of his team by making too many additions in the January transfer window.
It’s understandable that Arsenal are considering strengthening their squad to boost their title challenge. One or two signings could give them the depth needed to keep Manchester City at arm’s length, but the wrong additions could disrupt what Arteta has built to this point. There is good reason to be careful.
Youri Tielemens has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal reportedly keen to add to their midfield options. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka have forged a strong understanding in the centre of the pitch, but there is very little depth beyond the pair, particularly with Fabio Vieira struggling for fitness.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is another name to have been mentioned as a transfer target for Arsenal with the Serbian international also linked with Chelsea. The Gunners were also believed to have held talks with Atletico Madrid over the loan signing of Joao Felix before their Stamford Bridge rivals got a deal done first.
Alejandro Balde could be available this month as Barcelona look to cash in on the youngster and he would give Arsenal some valuable cover in the full back positions even if they already have Kieran Tierney, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko to do this. Balde’s signing could allow Zinchenko to push into central midfield more frequently.
Mykhailo Mudryk is reportedly Arsenal’s top target for the January transfer window with the Ukrainian winger believed to be interested in a move to North London. He would broaden the Gunners’ attacking options, but is he really the player they need to deputise for Gabriel Jesus when he is sidelined through injury?
“It’s going to take some time for sure,” Arteta replied when asked how serious Jesus’ injury was after the 2022 World Cup and how Arsenal might survive without the Brazilian forward. “He’s gone through surgery and that tells you the extent of the injury, so we will be in the market, always active and we will assess the biggest opportunities we have.
“We are going to be active and active means we are looking to strengthen the team. This squad still doesn’t have the luxury of not maximising every single window. We have to do that because it’s really important, but then we have to get the right profile. It has to be the right player to take us to the next level.”
Arteta is right, but finding the right player with the right profile in January will be difficult and Arsenal could be pushed into a hasty decision by the prospect of winning a Premier League title for the first time since 2004. Waiting for the right player and having to sit tight until the summer might be the correct course.
Arsenal have rebuilt their squad over the last few years through meticulous scouting and recruitment methods. They would be foolish to ditch those methods just as they get within touching distance of their objectives. The shimmer of the Premier League trophy mustn’t distract them.
