The January transfer window is not far away now and it could be one of the most pivotal in recent seasons with a hugely competitive title race in prospect.

Certainly both staff and punters alike here in the Transfer Tavern are bristling with excitement ahead of the second half of the season with five teams going for the biggest prize of all.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal all look ready to make a serious go of winning the league this year and so any edge they can get over the others in January could be crucial.

Indeed, Arsene Wenger will know this better than most thanks to his vast experience and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s already been knocking on the club’s owners’ door asking for particular things once this window opens.

Our landlord, agrees, and thinks the Frenchman has to have asked for these two things most…

A new left back

Neither Nacho Monreal nor Kieran Gibbs are good enough to play for a title-winning team and that is what Arsenal want to be.

When you look at the teams around them going for the league you have to say they all have better players in that area – even Liverpool with James Milner filling in. That cannot be right for a team like Arsenal and with Monreal once again making mistakes this season a replacement needs to be a priority.

Santi Cazorla’s heir

Easier said than done of course but Arsenal need to think of life after their diminutive metronome.

The former Villarreal man keeps the Gunners ticking over and they really do miss him when he’s out which seems to be more and more frequent as time passes. Eventually they’ll need a replacement for him so why not get ahead of the game and bring in a young talented midfielder and mould him into the perfect successor?

Agree Gunners fans? Let us know below!