Mikel Arteta and Arsenal face important decisions during the January transfer window, with both potential arrivals and departures on the horizon for the North London club in the coming weeks.
A strong January will be crucial for Arsenal to stay in the title race, and their success will depend not only on their on-field performances but also on their actions off the pitch.
Currently sitting second in the Premier League after 19 games, the Gunners trail leaders Liverpool by six points. However, Arne Slot’s side, who lead the table, have a game in hand and remain favorites to clinch the championship.
Arteta bolstered Arsenal’s squad in the summer, signing players like Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori for substantial fees. Yet, with key players like Bukayo Saka and Ben White sidelined due to injuries, additional reinforcements may be necessary.
The squad could also see further departures, as Arteta looks to refine his team for the latter part of the season. Mirror Football brings you the latest updates from North London.
While Arteta has downplayed the idea of a major spending spree, he hasn’t ruled out making moves. After a late attempt to sign Raheem Sterling at the end of the summer window, the Arsenal manager remains open to conducting business if opportunities arise.
“I don’t know. The focus is on the players that we have,” he said on Friday. “If there is somebody in the market that we can afford and we believe they will have a real impact on the team then we have to be open for that possibility always.
“At the moment, the focus is on what we have. That market is much more limited than the one in the summer.”
Celtic have reportedly opened discussions with Kieran Tierney regarding a potential pre-contract agreement, according to BBC Sport.
The Scotland left-back, who departed the Glasgow club for Arsenal in 2019, seems unlikely to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium beyond this season.
Tierney was close to leaving Arsenal during the summer after spending the previous season on loan at Real Sociedad. However, an injury sustained while on international duty at Euro 2024 halted those plans.
The defender recently made his first appearance for Arsenal in over 500 days during a Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace.
Despite this, it doesn’t appear to signal a long-term resurgence at the club, with Tierney potentially set to become the Gunners’ first summer departure.
Thomas Partey and Jorginho are entering the final months of their contracts and are now eligible to engage with potential overseas suitors.
While both players might still choose to extend their time in North London, Arsenal’s manager remained non-committal about their futures.
“It’s close communication with them, what their idea is, what they want to do, and what are their intentions,” Arteta told reporters. He indicated pre-contract exits were possible, but had no doubts about his squad’s commitment to the cause.
“All the players that are here, they want to focus on performing and impacting the team and if something happens there then we will assess it,” Arteta added.
Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Brighton as Havertz, Rice and Partey calls made
Arsenal face a must-win match as they visit Brighton tonight, aiming to maintain pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
Their comeback victory over Brentford on New Year’s Day reduced the gap to six points, though the Gunners have played one more game than their title rivals.
Mikel Arteta is navigating the challenge of Bukayo Saka’s long-term absence alongside other injury issues ahead of the 5:30 pm kick-off at the American Express Stadium.
With three points being essential, Express Sport examines how the Arsenal manager might set up his team.
Arsenal’s predicted XI against Brighton (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: David Raya
Arsenal, alongside Liverpool, boast the best defensive record in the league this season, having conceded only 17 goals. However, goalkeeper David Raya had a close call against Brentford, nearly turning Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot into his own net before scrambling back to clear it off the line.
Had that effort gone in, it would have put Brentford 2-0 ahead and left Arsenal facing an uphill battle. Fortunately for the Gunners, both Raya and the team managed to recover, with the Spaniard expected to retain his starting spot this weekend.
Defence: Partey, Saliba, Magalhaes, Calafiori
As if the Bukayo Saka situation wasn’t challenging enough for Arteta, he now faces a defensive dilemma. Right-back Jurrien Timber is sidelined due to suspension, and on Friday, Arteta confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu has yet to return to full training.
With Ben White also out long-term, Arsenal may need to deploy Thomas Partey as a temporary full-back once again. Another possibility is shifting William Saliba across and bringing Riccardo Calafiori into the center, though Arteta has been hesitant to disrupt the strong partnership between Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
Midfield: Odegaard, Rice, Merino
Declan Rice was only brought on as a second-half substitute at Brentford, but Arteta explained that leaving his record-signing out of the starting lineup was a precaution to manage his workload. He is expected to return to the starting XI tonight, especially with Partey likely to switch roles.
Captain Martin Ødegaard has maintained a key presence since his return from injury, while Mikel Merino seems to be settling in after a slow start to his career in England. He scored on Wednesday to give his team the lead, marking just his second Premier League goal.
Forwards: Havertz, Jesus, Martinelli
Arteta anticipates that Kai Havertz will be available again after missing the Brentford win due to illness, which could see 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri return to the bench.
A month ago, it seemed unthinkable to consider Gabriel Jesus as undroppable, but he has now scored six goals in four matches, responding strongly to calls for his sale this month.
Gabriel Martinelli is also in good form, with two goals in three games, and is likely to retain his place. With Raheem Sterling still unavailable, players like Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard could play crucial roles off the bench in the second half of the season.
