This winter's World Cup is a perfect opportunity for Arsenal to further their research of potential transfer targets ahead of the January window as the opening two days of Qatar 2022 has provided a look at several names.
After Ecuador beat the hosts in the opening game on Sunday, less than 24 hours later, England got off to a flying start by beating Iran 6-2, then Netherlands - including PSV Eindhoven's Cody Gakpo who has been linked with the Gunners - left it late to beat Senegal 2-0 and USA drew 1-1 with Wales.
As Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his first-team squad in the new year, football.london will be covering the performances of Arsenal’s potential transfer targets at the World Cup. Ensure to return after each matchday for comments on the performances of the players the Gunners have been linked to throughout the tournament.
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Jude Bellingham
This is more of a dream transfer for many Arsenal supporters rather than a concrete link, but calls for Arteta and Edu to break the bank for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder at some point in 2023 are growing after he announced himself on the biggest stage by playing a key role for England.
The teenager got the ball rolling by breaking the deadlock after producing one of his trademark late runs into the box and glancing Luke Shaw's header into the back of the net. But it wasn't just his goal that caught the eye as it was an all-action display from Jude Bellingham.
Rio Ferdinand waxed lyrical about the maturity the youngster shows and you get the feeling that the Gunners' engine room would be transformed if they were able to pull off what is, admittedly, an highly unlikely deal given the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested.
Cody Gakpo
Making his World Cup debut, starting alongside ex-Tottenham Hotspur pair Steven Bergwijn and Vincent Janssen, Cody Gakpo was probably the only member of the Netherlands' forward line that Arsenal fans were wishing had a good game against Senegal.
By no means was it an outstanding performance from the 23-year-old, but he showed flashes of promise in the first half before coming up with the all-important breakthrough with six minutes remaining. One attempt on target, one goal. In one word; clinical. Gakpo certainly didn't disappoint if any Gunners scouts were watching closely.
Teun Koopmeiners
As a late introduction, Teun Koopmeiners probably didn't expect to make much of an impact, if any at all. Yet, he did. It was 0-0 when the midfielder was sent on by Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal in the 79th minute and come full-time his nation were celebrating a 2-0 win. The Teun Koopmeiners effect?
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