Whilst it may not have turned out to be the exhilarating January transfer window Arsenal fans were hoping for, the club ultimately did what it needed to: strengthen squad depth.
Considering a Premier League title and a Europa League trophy are up for grabs, it was crucial for Mikel Arteta to address gaps in key areas of the team, such as central defence, defensive midfield and the wing. The arrivals of Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard have done just that, but there’s still plenty of work to do come the summer.
With Champions League football currently on course to return to the Emirates Stadium next season, the Arsenal hierarchy will know that the summer window has the potential to be one of their biggest - and most important - yet. A solid foundation has been successfully built with a combination of youth, experience and quality, now it’s about adding layers that will only see it grow stronger in the years ahead.
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With all of that in mind, football.london takes a look at what has to happen for Arteta to complete his perfect squad in the coming months.
There will obviously be a huge sense of excitement around new signings, especially with the prospect of more funds becoming available through certain achievements this season. However, the club must take a ruthless approach if it wants to compete with the big guns and that means upgrading on what is already here.
Rob Holding has been a class act since he arrived under Arsene Wenger in 2016, giving his all for the shirt while offering great professionalism on and off the pitch. But as the team makes significant strides, the question must be asked with the greatest respect: has he really got what it takes to be a part of the next phase?
It’s a question that also applies to the likes of Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny and Reiss Nelson. Their love for the club is undeniable, but there comes a time when you have to close one chapter and open another in order to move forward.
Bearing in mind the options ahead of them and the contributions, or lack of, they’ve made so far, several other names should ideally be moved on. They include Alex Runarsson, Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Nicolas Pepe and possibly even Sambi Lokonga if a suitable offer arrives. It has become evident that all of them are out of favour and do not offer sufficient quality nor consistency.
Meanwhile, it’s impossible to sit here right now and predict how many incomings there will be, but even if all or most of those mentioned above depart, there isn’t a need to go crazy. Instead, it will be about quality rather than quantity. For instance, let's say every player currently in the first-team squad stays put excluding Holding, Elneny and those on loan, you could argue that only three or four signings would be required.
Arsenal’s interest in Ivan Fresneda was well-documented last month and the young Spanish right-back could be an ideal option to replace Cedric should he leave permanently. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s versatility means a new centre-back is not a necessity and enables him to replace Holding if required.
In midfield, Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Martin Zubimendi and Youri Tielemans are all believed to be on the Gunners’ radar. That then leaves a right winger to potentially come in too, with Moussa Diaby another long-term target.
Folarin Balogun's incredible season should also be factored into future plans. With 12 goals to his name after 20 appearances, there is no reason why he cannot play an important role alongside Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. His presence in the squad, however, could mean that Trossard or Emile Smith Rowe feature on the right flank instead of a new forward, as Arteta will be keen to ensure everybody gets a chance.
Of course, there are no guarantees that any of those scenarios will become reality, especially as so much can change between now and July. What is certain though, is that it needs to be the target and ambition must continue to be at the forefront. Is there still lots of hard work ahead? Yes. But gone are the days of incompetence and staleness, Arsenal are back and they are here to win.
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