Arsenal will finally be able to strengthen their squad in just a few days, with Mikel Arteta eagerly awaiting the January transfer window.
The Gunners have had a solid season so far, but could still use a handful of new signings to help them close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.
There are a few areas where Arsenal could do with more quality – especially up front given the lack of a recognized number 9 – while some more defensive depth could also make a big difference following the injuries to Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Here, Mirror Football runs through Arsenal's biggest transfer rumors and stories ahead of the window opening.
Sterling loan position
It's fair to say that Raheem Sterling's move to Arsenal has not been very successful. He was loaned out to add more firepower and experience and give Arteta another quality option on the wing.
But he has played just 146 minutes in the Premier League and got just two starts. He has spent most of his playing time in the League Cup, where he scored once and provided one assist. He will not be happy with his current situation. However, despite his absence from the Emirates, it is claimed that the 30-year-old has no intention of terminating his loan deal.
The Athletic has reported that Sterling will not return to Chelsea next month. The prospect of returning to Stamford Bridge has been “ruled out” as the player focused on “making an impact” in the latter part of the campaign. Arteta has confirmed that the former Manchester City and Liverpool star has not been left out for “tactical reasons” and is optimistic about his chances for the remainder of the season.
Cunha sends Arsenal message
Matheus Cunha is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League at the moment and his standout performances have seen him linked with a big move to the Gunners.
A report from the Daily Telegraph claimed that Arteta was eyeing the Brazilian after he scored ten goals in the top flight for Wolves. He was hugely influential in their 2-0 win over Manchester United on Boxing Day, scoring one and assisting the other against Hwang Hee-chan.
However, after that match he tried to dispel rumors linking him with a January transfer as he insisted he was happy where he was.
“I'm so happy to be here,” he told Amazon Prime. “That's me as the leader of the team and then I give it to Channy [Hwang Hee-chan.] I think it's the first goal in the Premier League [this season] and he says every day: 'please pass me on'. So today I'm so happy because I got the chance to go to him and he scored.”
Moving forward is 'top priority'
We know Arsenal are crying out for a new striker; you just have to look at their top scorers this season. Kai Havertz has six, while Bukayo Saka has five. Leader Liverpool has the top scorer in Mohamed Salah, who has sixteen on his own.
Although Arsenal have not had any problems scoring goals this season (they have scored 34), they could do with some help taking the goalscoring burden off the shoulders of Havertz and Saka, who will now be out for an extended period with a hamstring injury. injury.
The club have been linked with the likes of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in recent weeks and now Arsenal officials have made it their “top priority” to ensure they get a new striker in January, according to the Evening Standard.
The report claims there was a “clear” need for more firepower within the squad even before Saka's injury struck after watching the team draw a clean sheet against Everton and struggle in their 1-1 draw against Fulham.
A new striker or wide player would be a “welcome addition”, it continues, with Arteta looking for a player who can provide “magical moments” for his team.
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