Typically for Arsenal, the Gunners are met with both an injury crisis and a ridiculously daunting Champions League tie after finishing second in their group. As Barcelona await, it’s hard to see manager Arsene Wenger navigating his way around the irresistible trident that is Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
However, perhaps not so typically for the side, is the fact they have a very good chance of actually winning the Premier League. Though Leicester sit atop the pile at the present moment, the North London giants will more than likely battle it out with Manchester City for the top prize in England.
Well, that is until we stop writing the Foxes off, of course.
Still, there’s room for improvement. As ever, the engine room is looking a little light in the wake of long term injuries to key duo Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin. The Gunners lack an anchor man to effectively replace the Frenchman, though how long have we been saying that?
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez remain superstars at the club and perhaps the arrival of some winter reinforcements can help the pair lead Arsenal to the Premier League.
The last time his side were in this position, Wenger only saw fit to sign Kim Kallstrom in January 2014. Hopefully he does not make the same mistake again.
Here are five bold January transfers to help Arsenal win the league…
VICTOR WANYAMA
Wenger has stated that he is not interested in landing Victor Wanyama this January, though perhaps he should not be so quick to completely rule it out. The 24-year old Kenyan bruiser is exactly what his teams have been so desperately lacking over the last few years.
Though Coquelin has surprised everyone and made the anchor man role his own, the Saints star can help provide competition. With the fight for a starting berth so competitive in other positions, it seems odd that the tenacious midfielder is all but guaranteed his spot.
As Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta enter the final six months of their deals, acquiring the former Celtic man would be very wise. Powerful and imposing, he’s exactly what the squad need.
MARCELO BROZOVIC
As far as ball playing midfielders go, the Emirates outfit are pretty well stocked. However, fast forward a few months and things could look a little light. Flamini and Arteta are expected to leave this summer, as is Tomas Rosicky.
Jack Wilshere cannot be relied upon at all to stay fit, so perhaps there is some room for new additions in the middle of the park. Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic has re-emerged as a target this winter, after impressing on loan from Dinamo Kiev.
Reportedly available for around £11.9m, the 23-year old is a classy operator in the middle of the park, a centre-midfielder in an old fashioned mould. Perhaps not as not as talented as Cazorla, the Croatian international is tenacious and has an eye on goal.
When injuries hit, as they so often do in North London, the club can look depleted. A wise move should it come off.
DANIELE RUGANI
Daniele Rugani just can’t get a look in at Juventus, though that does not make him a bad player. The 21-year old has been touted as one of the brightest prospects in Italian football after his stunning form at Empoli last term and has been repeatedly linked to Arsenal.
A classy, ball playing centre-half with an ability to read the game many don’t at his age, he’s the next best option after John Stones. His stoic presence next to Laurent Koscielny could help form a truly solid base at the heart of defence in place of the aging Per Mertesacker.
Wenger should act now, it’s not often a young player with such huge potential becomes available to land from another big club.
NOLITO
It seems Olivier Giroud is either imperious or awful. The Frenchman is either lambasted for not being up to the required standard, or lauded for banging in the goals. It’s an odd predicament for the Gunners, who seem to be unsure whether to stick or twist with him.
Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott support him, and support him well, but another natural centre-forward could be a wise option. Wenger likes his versatility and the Spaniard is equally comfortable leading the line as he is being deployed in a wider area. Lethal in front of goal, the 29-year old could be a short term fix to secure on field success.
Long term planning is all well and good, but Wenger needs to prove he is still capable of leading the team to Premier League glory. Nolito can help him do that.
RIYAD MAHREZ
A move to Arsenal halfway through the sensational season at Leicester City may not be wholly attractive to Riyad Mahrez right now, who’d have thought it? Still, as previously stated, these are bold targets.
The Algerian has been utterly sensational this term with 11 goals and 7 assists as the Foxes outfox the chasing pack in the Premier League. He’s been doing things with his left foot, against big teams, that rival some of the best players in Europe.
While Mesut Ozil is the undisputed Number 10 at the Emirates, Mahrez can play wide and help wreak just as much havoc. The prospect of Mahrez, Ozil and Sanchez lining up behind Walcott/Giroud is mouth-watering. Crucially, it could be title winning.