Transfer deadline day is upon us and Arsenal are still in the market to make additions before the January transfer window closes at 11pm tonight (Tuesday January 31).
The Gunners have been active this month with manager Mikel Arteta bolstering his options in attack as well as in defence with the signings of Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior from Brighton & Hove Albion and Serie A outfit Spezia respectively for a combined fee of £42million.
But amid fears over the severity of Mohamed Elneny's knee injury, the Arsenal boss has already revealed that he would ideally like to add another midfielder to the first-team squad, whilst outgoings should see Cedric Soares and Marquinhos join Fulham and Norwich City respectively on loan for the remainder of the season.
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As a result, the key question is what will the general mood be amongst Gunners supporters come 11pm when the January window officially slams shut and they are reflecting on the business Arteta and sporting director Edu will have completed in totality this month?
History suggests there will be some movement at the Emirates Stadium today, whether that be incomings, outgoings, or both, so, Arsenal fans brace yourself for a hectic transfer deadline day as football.london takes you through what would be the best and worst-case scenario.
Best case
Before the transfer window opened, it was clear that Arsenal needed more bodies in defence and in attack. Gabriel Jesus' knee injury and subsequent surgery, coupled with Reiss Nelson suffering a hamstring problem a week before the season resumed following the World Cup break, drew attention to the lack of cover for Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah.
A couple of days before the North London Derby win over Tottenham Hotspur and it appeared the Gunners were going to seal a deal for talented winger Mykhailo Mudryk. However, they were gazumped by London rivals Chelsea in the end, thus forcing Arteta and Edu to pivot and wrap up the signing of Trossard.
A few days later, the club confirmed another new arrival in Kiwior and he can provide cover for Gabriel Magalhaes as the left-sided central defender. So in many ways, it was already mission complete in terms of Arsenal's main priorities this month, long before deadline day.
With that said, there is room for another addition in the midfield department. Arteta has said so himself as it's unclear as to how long Elneny will be out of action, whilst Thomas Partey doesn't have the best injury record and Granit Xhaka will need a rest at some point over the next few months.
Luckily for Arteta and Edu, there are several potential dream signings that would delight many Arsenal fans. There is strong interest in Moises Caicedo and the fact he can operate as a '6' and an '8' means he would be an ideal midfield addition - but Brighton are said to be demanding £90milion for his services.
Martin Zubimendi (£52.8m) and Ibrahima Bamba (£26m) are cheaper alternatives, Eduardo Camavinga has been linked with a loan move, and some supporters have taken to social media to wish for an - albeit unrealistic - Kaoru Mitoma announcement on deadline day following his recent impressive form and goal for Brighton against Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Of course, signing Cavaminga or Mitoma is highly unlikely to happen, but if the Gunners can bring in a midfielder - whether that be Caicedo, Zubimendi or Bamba - then deadline day will be considered a successful one.
Worst-case
If the Gunners do not get any business done before the 11pm deadline then it's likely to be seen as an opportunity missed and there will be flashbacks to a year ago where the club decided to not do any business, which ultimately ended up costing them Champions League qualification.
Just like how Arsenal's priority today should be to sign a midfielder, last in January it was just as clear that they needed reinforcements in this department and they were heavily linked with the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Arthur Melo and Bruno Guimaraes throughout the month.
Considering Caicedo is also attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, if he was to sign for any club other than the Premier League leaders on deadline day then unless the Gunners have a plan B option waiting in the wings, supporters won't be best pleased if no midfielder arrives before the window closes.
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