Football
John Cross 9y

Window Shopping: What do Arsenal need in the January transfer window?

January is always an important month in the season -- on and off the field. While the Premier League fixtures come thick and fast, as well as the return of the FA Cup, clubs have the chance to add to their squads in the transfer window.

Getting it right this month could be the difference between a title challenge or falling away, while clubs at the other end of the table will desperately seek improvements to retain their Premier League status.

As for Arsenal, here's a look at what lies in store for Arsene Wenger's men.

What do Arsenal need this month?

Arsenal desperately need to strengthen in January, having had their squad horribly exposed in the first half of the season.

In particular, the Gunners need to bolster their defence, as they started the campaign with only six senior defenders. That has led to them being short, conceding goals and also perhaps over-playing Per Mertesacker and Calum Chambers, who have looked fatigued and out of form. They have both needed a rest.

Arsenal need a new centre-half who can also play full-back. They sold Thomas Vermaelen and didn't replace him, which was a big mistake.

They also look to be short of a holding midfielder, a role Wenger has resisted buying a specialist for since any fan can remember. They would be so much stronger with a big midfielder general who could dominate the opposition.

Wenger has looked at a few like Morgan Schneiderlin and Lars Bender but has stuck with Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, neither of whom are traditional anchormen. I think a midfield general to complement their attacking players would strengthen Arsenal and make them the real deal.

Talking targets -- who's in their sights?

Arsenal want a centre-half and have been scouting an experienced player and also a less experienced prospect.

Wenger has confirmed Arsenal's interest in Ipswich youngster Tyrone Mings, who looks big, strong and possesses lots of potential. Mings plays left-back at Ipswich in the Championship but has the physical capabilities to play at centre-back, and he would be ideal: versatile, young and strong. But Ipswich want a lot of money, and that may put Arsenal off.

They may be able to get West Ham's Winston Reid, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has stalled on a new deal and may be available. Wenger has sent his scouts to watch the New Zealander, and it looks a good chance of happening. But he's not particularly big.

Will West Ham sell now and risk blowing their top-four chances? That's a big ask, but Arsenal are weighing it up.

Lots of midfielders have been scouted by the north London club, and there's an interest in Schneiderlin and Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko, but the priority is a defender.

What do you expect Arsene Wenger to do?

I think Arsenal will sign a defender. Wenger is always cautious with January deals and transfers in general, so if Arsenal start to get get healthy, it might persuade him to wait until the summer. But the fans are crying out for new signings.

Surely after leaving himself short in the summer, even the board may try to put pressure on Wenger to buy in January.

Arsenal have given him about 20 million pounds to spend in the winter window. The Frenchman could even ask for a bit more and they'd give it to him.

The Gunners need to strengthen. They need new faces to lift the existing players and to give them belief. But they need to address the midfield issue in the longer term, and perhaps the world-class players won't be around in January.

Typically, Wenger has shied away from January deals, but I do think he'll sign a defender, especially with Laurent Koscielny nursing a long-term Achilles tendon problem.

Out the exit door

I think Yaya Sanogo will go out on loan, purely and simply to give him game time, goals and confidence. There's something there, and he's got power, pace and potential but has yet to unlock it at Arsenal.

If he can go to a Premier League club that would be a good switch for him. Crystal Palace are definitely keen, and that'd be a good move. He just needs game time and experience. Gaining that at Palace, Sanogo could yet make it at Arsenal.

The other young one who could go out would be Joel Campbell. West Brom, Swansea, Stoke and even Inter Milan fancy him.

Campbell wants games, but there are questions about letting both Sanogo and Campbell leave. Lukas Podolski has been sounding off lately, but who will pay his 100,000 pound-a-week wages? That's the question. Don't see that one happening.

Likely arrivals

I think the two most likely are Mings and Reid. Ipswich could potentially be persuaded to sell if Mings is returned on loan for the remainder of the season. Reid could be a less complicated affair, having just six months remaining on his contract. Wenger will get one of the two in January. Next summer, expect another defender and a quality midfielder to follow.

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