With 15 games left to go, the whereabouts of the Premier League title is still anybody’s guess and it’s getting all too much for some of our Arsenal regulars.
Having picked up two points from their last three fixtures against Liverpool, Stoke City and Chelsea, despite those games being deemed difficult, many of our Gooners are still downbeat that their club’s wobble is coming at the wrong time.
In their eyes, a side that wins the title should’ve been able to pick up more points against those three sides that weren’t necessarily in form with all the games tight.
It really comes down to whether you’re an optimistic or pessimistic Arsenal fan with the Gunners still just three points off unlikely league leaders Leicester City and level with Manchester City who many more deem to be realistic title challengers so is it all that bad?
Some of our Arsenal fans say yes because the club haven’t capitalised on multiple chances to get out in front this season with Arsene Wenger coming in for heavy criticism yet again.
The long-serving French boss has brought a player into Emirates Stadium this month although we’re yet to see him in action however.
Many were calling for Mohamed Elneny to start against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon given the fact he was brought in as an upgrade on Mathieu Flamini who didn’t enjoy the best game against the Blues.
The Egyptian international will undoubtedly start against Burnley in the FA Cup at the weekend but could anybody else be following the former FC Basel man to North London before the January transfer window slams shut?
Here’s five players the Gunners should seriously consider making last ditch swoops for before it’s too late!
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Click on the Arsene Wenger below to reveal the five players Arsenal should seriously consider signing this month.
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Odion Ighalo
All along, the party line from Watford and even the player himself has been that Odion Ighalo will be remaining at Vicarage Road this winter and isn’t interested in a switch to pastures new.
The Nigerian international has been a revelation for the Hornets with 14 strikes in his first ever Premier League campaign but he brings so much more than goals alone with his work ethic standing out above anything else.
Now while it isn’t classic Arsenal to aggressively pursue transfer targets, any injury of any significant period of time to either Theo Walcott or Olivier Giroud would be disastrous at this stage of the season and can the Gunners really rely upon that pair to stay fit until the end of the season?
Alexis Sanchez could play as a centre forward of course but he hasn’t been seen to greatest effect there and with Watford having brought in Nordin Amrabat from Malaga this January, we wonder whether a big money bid for Ighalo could tempt the Hornets in the final knockings of this month.
Nolito
It’s likely that this one will all come to nothing but talkSPORT are noting that with Barcelona having failed to lure Celta Vigo’s Nolito to the Camp Nou this month, now Arsenal have a sound chance to seal the deal for themselves.
Both the Catalan giants and the Gunners have been linked to the Spanish international for a little while now and despite primarily playing on the wing, the 29-year-old’s goal return is healthy with 35 strikes in his total 84 La Liga appearances for Celta thus far.
His age might rule him out of Wenger’s thinking but at this stage of the season and with Nolito having set his sights on a bigger pond than the Balaidos, maybe a signing such as this could give Wenger’s side a second wind going forward and contingency should either Walcott or Giroud get injured.
Borja Mayoral
Names such as Isco and Jese Rodriguez have been frequently linked with Arsenal in recent transfer windows but it’s a lesser known Real Madrid name in Borja Mayoral that’s been linked more recently.
On the fringes of Zinedine Zidane’s first team right now, Mayoral has only made one La Liga appearance for Los Blancos but shares similarities to Alvaro Morata and is highly-rated in the Spanish capital.
Like any young player coming through at a European giant such as Real Madrid, he’ll have to bide his time to achieve first team recognition but this may come elsewhere.
Metro reported earlier this month that the Spanish Under-21 international was in a contract row with the club over the decision to award fellow talented youngster Martin Odegaard more money than him.
Now while this isn’t the greatest motivation for a young player, especially in an Arsene Wenger team, the Gunners remain linked and it’s one to watch.
Ben Chilwell
There’s no smoke without fire and when it comes to Leicester City’s up-and-coming prospect Ben Chilwell, it appears Arsene Wenger is intent on landing his man.
Apparently, the Gunners have submitted a second improved bid to the Foxes for their 19-year-old academy product who has only just burst onto the scene, appearing twice against Tottenham in the FA Cup.
Looking incredibly assured for his age with no fear, a lot can be said for young players with this kind of mentality but the question remains; if Chilwell arrived what would happen to Kieran Gibbs?
You often hear Arsene Wenger claim that the Gunners are spoilt in boasting two top quality left backs but for some Gooners by the bar, Gibbs has been treading water for too long prior to being usurped by Nacho Monreal this season.
With Chilwell looking like a real long-term talent, who knows, maybe Arsenal academy graduate Gibbs isn’t safe after all?
Giannelli Imbula
Giannelli Imbula is somewhat a familiar name for our Arsenal fans here in the tavern with some of them remembering the club being linked to his talents back in the summer.
Eventually signing for FC Porto from Marseille, it hasn’t all been rosy for the Frenchman in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with the defensive midfielder some way down the pecking order behind Hector Herrera, Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves and Andre Andre.
With the Portuguese giants apparently wanting £18.5 million for the player, we read earlier this month that Stoke City were keen also.
While it could all get a bit congested in central midfield if Imbula were to arrive at Arsenal this month, we know that Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky’s days are numbered so maybe this might be a decent investment with their departures already scheduled for the summer.
