A month ago, Arsenal’s squad looked in need of only fine-tuning this January, but after a run in which the Gunners have taken just four points from five matches, Mikel Arteta is looking towards the window with something of a dilemma as he searches for a title spark.
There are strong cases for strengthening all three outfield units. Arsenal are a body light in defence, have a long-term problem in midfield and look blunt in attack.
But with Premier League profit and sustainability rules now posing a more potent threat, they may have to prioritise just one — and where they place their bet will go a long way to deciding whether a two-decade title drought is ended in May.
For most of the early season, the suggestion was a central midfielder would be top of Arteta’s shopping list this month.
Jorginho, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are all into their early thirties (the former pair are into the final six months of their contracts as well) and following the arrival of Declan Rice as the totem of a new midfield, along with the sale of Granit Xhaka, broader renewal is planned as the next phase of Arteta’s evolution.
Suddenly, though, that looks a job for another day. Kai Havertz is at last showing signs of life as a Xhaka replacement and it appears that with Partey’s expected return and Rice’s — touch wood — outstanding fitness record, Arsenal could make it to the summer as they are in midfield in order to address more pressing issues elsewhere.
In recent weeks, it has become clear that the bulk of those lie in the forward line. Arteta’s side have scored 37 times in 20 League matches so far this season, eight fewer than at the same stage last term, and most tellingly sit only 13th in the division for goals from open play.
In successive League defeats, against Fulham and West Ham, Arsenal have struggled to carve out chances against resolute defences after going behind and what little they have created has been spurned, with Gabriel Jesus bearing the brunt of criticism as doubts over whether he can be a 20-goal centre-forward intensify.
The clamour for reinforcement, then, is understandable, but are the players available? The Gunners have found signing attackers in this window challenging in the past, most notably when failing to get Mykhailo Mudryk 12 months ago, and know their chief striking target, Ivan Toney, would cost an arm and two legs as he returns to a Brentford side that have been dragged into a relegation battle.
And so, perhaps, it is in the least glamorous third that the shrewdest immediate investment might be made.
"The versatility of Tomiyasu, in particular, has allowed Arsenal to get by so far, but they are playing a dangerous game"
Arteta’s defensive options at present do not fall in line with his demand to have two players competing for every position, with only seven (excluding Cedric Soares) on the books even before you consider Jurrien Timber is out with a serious knee problem and the injury-prone Takehiro Tomiyasu only back just in time to jet off to the Asian Cup.
The versatility of Tomiyasu, in particular, has allowed Arsenal to get by so far, but they are playing a dangerous game.
The memory of last season, when it was not creative failure or a question of ruthlessness that saw Arsenal’s title bid unravel, but the loss of centre-back lynchpin William Saliba without adequate cover, ought to be instructive now.
