Arsenal supporters in the Football Transfer Tavern are finding it tough to call this weekend’s clash with Liverpool at Anfield given that both sides have endured difficult starts to the 2014/15 campaign.
Whilst Arsenal sit five points clear of the Reds in sixth place, many had hoped the signing of Alexis Sanchez in the summer would have seen them mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title.
As it stands, Arsenal seem to going from the sublime to the ridiculous each week. Back-to-back 4-1 victories over Newcastle United and Galatasaray came after a 3-2 humbling against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium which has seen Arsene Wenger come under increasing pressure.
The Frenchman has to spend big in January perhaps in order to save his job and with the opening of the transfer window less than two weeks away, it appears Wenger has started his business early – for once.
Reports today suggest the Gunners have agreed a deal for Polish wonderkid Krystian Bielik with the 16-year-old Legia Warsaw defensive midfielder agreeing terms after a £1.6 million bid had been agreed.
Any Arsenal supporter will tell you however that more established stars need to be brought in this winter if Wenger is to save the Gunners season – and possibly his job.
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Moussa Sissoko
The all-action midfielder has been a key man behind Newcastle’s recent revival under Alan Pardew. Arsene Wenger is said to have been a long-term admirer of his fellow countryman and was reportedly keen to bring Sissoko in before he made the switch to Tyneside.
Newcastle will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season, when losing a star French midfielder in January saw their season fall apart. But with Arsenal desperate for a midfield enforcer and Sissoko eligible for Champions League football during the second half of the campaign, the right offer may be difficult for the France international to turn down.
Winston Reid
The defender has been an integral part of the West Ham United side that currently finds itself battling for a place in the Premier League’s top four. The New Zealand international was sorely missed last term for the Hammers through injury and his return to the squad and the subsequent improvement in form is no coincidence.
Reid is in the final six months of his contract at Upton Park however and despite Sam Allardyce saying it would cost in the region of £20million to tempt him away, the lure of Champions League football at the Emirates Stadium will surely prove too much for the defender to resist.
Tyrone Mings
Arsene Wenger has a history of signing top young British talent in winter transfer windows – think Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. And reports suggest the Arsenal boss has his eye on the next big thing to emerge from the Championship – Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings.
The classy 21-year-old centre / left back has come on leaps and bounds under Mick McCarthy with the Tractor Boys who currently occupy fourth spot in the Championship – just one point off the top.
Ipswich know they will find it difficult to hang onto their prized asset this winter with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger having already confirmed their interest in signing the defender.
Marek Hamsik
Reports continue to link Mesut Ozil with a move away from the Emirates Stadium with Bayern Munich apparently eager to bring him back to Germany. That would leave the Gunners with a playmakers void to fill and Napoli star Marek Hamsik is said to be looking for a new challenge.
Rafael Benitez is not understood to be the biggest fan of the Slovakian international having benched him several times during his reign despite his reputation as the club’s star man.
Napoli are in a position of having to sell before they can strengthen so a big money offer may well see the playmaker make the switch to North London this winter.
Benedikt Howedes
The 26-year-old has been at Schalke for his entire career so far and would surely be open to the challenge of the Premier League with a club capable of challenging in Europe.
Arsenal’s priority this winter will be a new centre back – perhaps even two – given their injury problems and failure to replace Thomas Vermaelen in the summer.
German international Howedes is a World Cup winner and would offer plenty of experience to an Arsenal back line that has struggled all season. The fact there is already a heavy German contingent at the Emirates Stadium would also play a part in him wanting to move to the Emirates surely.
