We may only be five days into the January transfer window but it's already been a busy one for Arsenal. After opening up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League, it's no secret that the Gunners want to bolster their squad this month.
"We are really trying to improve the squad in every window," Mikel Arteta told football.london after Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Newcastle. "We’re trying to do our best because we cannot waste any windows still with the squad and the numbers that we have. We will try."
After some smart acquisitions such as Gabriel Jesus and Alex Zinchenko over the summer, the Arsenal squad is certainly better equipped for a title charge than it was this time last year. But with the Gunners set to compete on multiple fronts in 2023 there are a few areas where they may look to strengthen.
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Primarily it seems as though the forward areas are the focus for Edu right now. Although Emile Smith Rowe is close to a return and Gabriel Jesus is recovering well from his knee injury, Arsenal are still keen to bring in a player capable of playing on the flanks this month.
There have been several names linked as they seek to do this such as Orlando City's Facundo Torres or Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid. However, the man they have honed in on right now is Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Arsenal have submitted two bids for the Ukrainian who has made it clear via his social media activity and various interviews that he is keen to make the move. As things stand Shakhtar Donetsk are playing hardball on a fee as they are keen to get a decent chunk up front amid their current financial difficulties. The Ukrainian side have consistently stated that they want a sum in the region of what has been paid for Jack Grealish or Antony over the past couple of summers. Arsenal don't want to go that high and although Shakhtar are expected to reject their second bid which is thought to be less than £60million, there is hope that they will eventually come down on a fee. Chelsea's reported interest could make that difficult, but the player's preference may be decisive.
There have also been suggestions that the Gunners could look for a midfielder this window after going for Douglas Luiz late in the summer window. Youri Tielemans has been a name consistently mentioned although football.london understands that Arsenal are unlikely to make a move for him in January even though he only has six months left on his contract at Leicester. With all of their midfield options bar Smith Rowe currently fit there is a feeling that the club are well stocked in that area of the pitch right now. However, as we saw in the summer with injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny late in August, that can change very quickly.
Arteta has stated that Arsenal will be "cautious" about who they let go this window, and with Cedric attracting interest from Fulham and other teams on the continent, there is an argument to suggest that they could need to sign someone to replace him. However, as things stand the forward areas are the priority rather than the defence ones for the Gunners.
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