Arsenal Set For A Busy January

Arsenal are one of the clubs who are remain quite during the January transfer window normally. However this time with all the pressure within Emirates to buy new players has made Arsenal to look out for potential targets. And most importantly the dead woods who remain in the club have been linked with a move outside Emirates.

 

Out of favor, Russian Winger, looks close to leaving Arsenal to join his Russian team mate Pogrebnyak in a move westwards to Reading. It is expected that Reading will pay around £4 million for the transfer and Arshavin will earn around 60,000 pounds a week, which will be the club’s new record, which is more than Arshavin’s former Zenit and Russia teammate Pavel Pogrebnyak gets at the club. Marouane Chamakh and Brazilian Left back, Santos have also been approached by West Ham and Galatasaray and if the right amount is offered, Arsenal for once can clear out their dead woods.

Meanwhile Arsenal are looking to sign at-least one player if not three with Demba Ba looks almost a Gunner now. With the board announcing the availability of transfer funds, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may be tempted to look out for more than a striking options this January.

Their main priority is a striker of course. David Villa, Adrian Lopez and Demba Ba are the reported three who Arsene Wenger is looking at. On paper David is obviously the most attractive player out of the three, but his wages could cause many problems and spending £15m for a 31-year-old just isn’t something Arsene would usually do. 

Adrian would also be a dream signing and he could well be an Arsenal player come next month as Arsenal are said to be scouring the Spanish market this winter and Adrian is looking for a move away from current club, Atletico Madrid, as he’s fed up of sitting on the bench week after week.

Secondly, Wenger is looking for a Holding Midfielder as they are always a man short in the midfield and Mohamed Diame is the main man linked. Mohamed will cost Arsenal £3.5m due to a buy-out clause in his contract. The Senegalese, like Demba Ba, will not be travelling to the AFCON as Senegal did not qualify. Mohamed can be that one player who can replace Song perfectly as he is physical as well as helps in going forward, more of a box – to – box midfielder. 

My verdict for signing a defender:

Mbiwa

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, though not seriously linked with Arsenal, he has always been on the talks amongst the Gooners. Mbiwa could the best player that Arsenal could sign this January along with Ba. Reasons ?

Arsene Wenger likes French players. And he loves a versatile player, something Mapou certainly is, as the 24-year-old can play in all 4 positions at the back AND as a holding midfielder. Mapou was the star man for Montpellier against Arsenal in both ties of the Champions League as he kept the likes of Santi Cazorla extremely quiet in the holding midfield role.