Yesterday, I blogged about how a new left back is not essential to Arsenal in January. In Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksander Zinchenko, we have plentiful options. So what business do I expect us to do?

New striker

Whilst I do not think that a new striker will dramatically change our fortunes, I think it is becoming obvious that we need someone who is better than Eddie Nketiah, and potentially better than Gabriel Jesus.

The issue, as always, is who? Manchester United and Chelsea have been chasing a new striker for years and have yet to solve the conundrum, spending hundreds millions on sub-par performers. There is clearly a lack of top strikers in world football right now.

Victor Osimhen is clearly a star, but is unlikely to be available in January. Players of his stature tend to move in the summer window. Considering Napoli’s demise this season (currently 7th), I think they will likely cash in on him in 6 months.

Osimhen would dovetail nicely with Jesus, giving us two very good options down the middle. Jesus will then provide further cover outwide and could even be an option in the role similar to what Julian Alvarez undertakes for Manchester City.

The question for fans is would you sacrifice a new striker in January to get Osimhen in the summer?

Beyond Osimhen , the only other name on peoples lips is Ivan Toney.

Toney is still banned for a couple of weeks, although he has been back in training for some time. Questions will be asked how quickly he refinds full form and fitness having missed 8 months of football.

I think it will either be Toney in January, or we will keep our powder dry and go big for Osimhen in the summer.

Midfielder

Declan Rice has been an absolute machine this season, but at some point he will have a drop off in levels of play.

Thomas Partey is the obvious man to come in for him, but there is a possibility he might depart in January. Veterans Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny will likely depart in the summer (both have contracts expiring). That means across the enxt two transfer windows, Arsenal will need to sign at least one, and maybe two (if Partey departs) midfielders.

Douglas Luiz is the man I would want to be Partey’s long term replacement – the Brazilian can play both as the sole defensive pivot and further forward as a defensive minded alternative to Kai Havertz. Aston Villa’s form this season will probably delay that transfer until the summer.

Martin Zubimendi risks being one of those players that is linked to us every window. Considering his well known release clause, you have to think a move would have happened by now.

There are also a few Brazilian lads getting linked to us.

André Trindade feels a bit like Danilo (who joined Nottingham Forest). His agents are using us to get his name in the British press in the hope a Premier League club moves for him. Meanwhile, Gabriel Moscardo is a raw talent and would probably be the “3rd chocie midfielder” repalcing Jorginho/Elneny, rather than coming in to replace Partey as Rice’s back-up.

The last name I see mentioned a lot is Fulham’s João Palhinha. I am not sure Arsenal would look to spend big on a fella that turns 29 at the end of the season.

My gut is we will only move for a cnetral midfielder if Partey departs. The preference would be Douglas Luiz, but that will be a hard move to make. What will probably end up happening is we encourage Partey to stay for another 6 months, and he can depart in the summer alongside Jorginho and Elneny. Douglas Luiz and Gabriel Moscardo incoming…

Defensive options

I have already ruled out us signing a new left back due to having 4 full backs (3 of whom can play left back). However, many of those ITK reliable journalists have mentioned that a new defender is high on our list of “wants”.

The result will probably mean a 4th centre back coming in, which will also allow for Jakub Kiwor to become an option at left back.

I rate Kiwor highly. He has proved himself as a decent performer, although his game time has been limited. The Pole has been linked with a move away from the club to Napoli.

Whilst I do not think that move away will happen in January, you could maybe see a situation where his future gets discussed if we are going for Oshimen in the summer. Kiwor could knock £30m off the asking price.

We are reportedly in for Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio. But so are Liverpool. The Portuguese centreback is one of the most in-demand defenders in football. Inacio’s teammate, Ousmane Diomande, has also been linked with us.

It will be tough to recruit someone as Gabriel and William Saliba is our first choice partnership, and the pair are amongst the best in Europe. Anyone coming in will be doing so to sit on the bench.

Whilst this works for Manchester City, they compensate lack of game time with huge wages. I can not see us paying someone £150k a week to sit on the bench.

Kiwor is the ideal centreback to do the job as a 3rd choice, young and has taken a big step up. I am not sure the likes of Inacio will be as happy to make that move. We also still have Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Tomiyasu as options to repalce Saliba were he to get injured.

I guess the unknown is Saliba’s back injury from last season.

As we saw with Thierry Henry, players rarely fully recover from back problems, and the injury could blight Saliba’s career. If he is currently playing through the pain, or pilled up, we might be looking for top quality competition which will allow us to rest and rotate Saliba, allowing the injury to heal.

Conclusion

This could be a frustating transfer window for Arsenal. It might feel like we do not have a plan, but the situation is complex.

Do you go for Toney in January and risk missing out on Osimhen in the summer? Does a new defensive midfielder only come in if Partey leaves? And what if we can not pry Douglas Luiz away from Villa? And the defence is a headache as we will be looking to bring someone in who is quality, but happy to sit on our bench.

One thing is certain, I have full faith in Edu, Arteta et al to make the right decisions for The Arsenal.

Keenos