Three signings Arsenal must make to bolster Premier League title chase
Arsenal spent Christmas at the top of the Premier League table for the second season on the trot, but the wheels have come off since.
Mikel Arteta’s side went toe-to-toe with Manchester City for most of last season before a lack of strength in depth tipped the scales in the Cityzens’ favour.
However, the Gunners’ pursuit of their first top-flight title in two decades could go sideways sooner in 2023/24, with top-placed Liverpool already moving five points clear.
There’s still enough time for Arsenal chiefs to get the club’s title chase back on track, though, with the clock ticking, they can’t afford further delays.
The team’s shortcomings came to the fore in back-to-back league losses to London rivals Fulham and West Ham United towards the end of 2023, identifying three key areas where Arsenal can improve in January.
It’s time to act in the transfer window.
Full-back crisis
Recurring injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko have highlighted the first part of the campaign.
Ben White remains a rock-solid option at right-back, but his attacking limitations proved detrimental in the abovementioned defeats.
While waiting for Jurrien Timber to return from a long-term injury, Arsenal are in the market for a new right-back.
Galatasaray star Sacha Boey has emerged as the Gunners’ top target, with talks between the sides well underway.
However, the Turkish side’s valuation has proved a stumbling block, forcing Arsenal to back off and reconsider their options.
Boey’s potential arrival would provide Arteta with a much-needed offensive-minded full-back, and the London outfit can’t afford to miss out on this deal.
On the left, though, Zinchenko is the only viable solution.
Arteta experimented with Jakub Kiwior and even Kai Havertz, but neither are out-and-out left-backs.
It’s difficult to expect Arsenal to sign two full-backs in January. However, it would be a catastrophe if they fail to get Boey’s deal over the line.
Over-reliance on Saka
Bukayo Saka has made the right wing his own, establishing himself as the attacking leader in Arteta’s set-up.
But unlike last season, the England international has blown hot and cold this term, while the Gunners showed a lack of ability to adjust to his downturn in form.
Reducing reliance on the 22-year-old is imperative for Arsenal if they’re to diversify their attacking options and remove the ever-growing sense of predictability.
Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, Leandro Trossard has proved an unworthy alternative, while Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe are nowhere near Saka’s quality.
Arteta has two choices.
He can either sign a new winger and add a new dimension to his faltering frontline or change his tactical approach to alleviate pressure on the overused forward.
Lack of prolific marksman
Arsenal might have thought Gabriel Jesus’ arrival from Man City in 2022 would be a long-term answer to their goalscoring problems, but that’s not been the case.
In addition to frequent injury setbacks, the Brazilian is not a ‘classic No9,’ capable of guaranteeing 20+ goals per season.
From a team chemistry point of view, Jesus is a top-class option. His willingness to sacrifice for the team, drop back to lend a helping hand in the build-up play and rotate on the flanks is admirable.
However, he’s not a prolific goalscorer by any stretch of the imagination. Neither is Eddie Nketiah.
With that in mind, Arsenal hoped to bring Ivan Toney from Brentford despite his long-term suspension.
That deal is no longer on the cards as the 27-year-old pledged his immediate future to the Gtech Community Stadium, as confirmed by Thomas Frank on Monday (via beIN Sports).
Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez would be a decent acquisition, although signing overachieving players from the Eredivisie is often a double-edged sword.
Luckily, Arsenal don’t need to look beyond the Premier League borders to address their scoring woes.
Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke has been nothing short of impressive this season and seems ready to take his career to the next level.
What better place than the Emirates Stadium to help him fulfil his dream?
