Pictured above: Odegaard steps up to take a penalty against Manchester United. The penalty accounted for 0.79 of Arsenal’s total xG in the game.

1: Liam Delap

Gary Lineker recently suggested that Arsenal should pursue Ipswich striker, Liam Delap, as a solution to their shortcomings up front. Delap is young, gets a lot of game time and could be a real name for the future.

However, with limited finances available and Gabriel Jesus now adding his name to Arsenal’s lengthy injury list, it’s likely Arsenal will prioritise signing a forward with a proven track record for performing at the highest level. For that reason, it’s unlikely Arsenal would enter the market for Delap this January.

2: Bradley Barcola

Kvicha kvaratskhelia’s move to PSG has cast doubt over Barcola’s role and future at the club. The two players occupy a similar position on the left wing and given Kvaratskhelia’s transfer fee and reputation, Barcola may end up playing second fiddle to the Georgian winger. This conflict has led some fans to believe Arsenal could turn to Barcola, to bring flare to an increasingly stagnant attack.

Although a loan or longer-term move could make sense for both clubs, there has been little in terms of tangible links between Arsenal and Barcola. A move therefore seems improbable.

3: Benjamin Šeško

Arsenal have been linked with Benjamin Šeško several times over the last two seasons. With 15 goal contributions in 24 games this season, Šeško is a readymade striker. He is strong, fast and clinical and at just 21 years of age, he has the potential to grow and adapt at Arsenal. On top of that, Šeško is 6 foot 4 and could offer an additional set piece threat for Nicholas Jover to work with.

Although speculation has ramped up recently, with The Sun reporting that Arsenal are considering a £70m move for Šeško, it’s unlikely that Arsenal will break the bank.

A loan deal could work for Arsenal, but it’s questionable whether Leipzig would really part ways with Šeško in the midst of a tight battle for Champions League qualification.

4: Dušan Vlahović

Another player who Arsenal have been heavily linked with in the past, Dušan Vlahović is a proven striker at the top level. This season, he has started to fall out of favour at Juventus. Given his wages of EUR 427k per week, Juventus may find a loan deal attractive to alleviate some of the financial strain of keeping him at the club.

This is a rumour which has slowly gained momentum over the last few weeks. On paper, it is eminently possible.

5: Nico Williams

It was Barcelona who ultimately came closest to signing Nico Williams last summer, despite multiple links to Arsenal. However, with Barcelona entrenched in various financial battles, a move to N5 is increasingly possible.

Williams lit up Euro 2024 for Spain, picking up 2 goals and 1 assist on the way to lifting the trophy in Berlin. His speed, dribbling ability and proven output, means Williams could provide the perfect replacement for Gabriel Martinelli who has struggled for form over the last two seasons. In addition, the Athletic’s transfer guru, David Ornstein, recently reported that Arteta would “really like to sign him in this January transfer window”. However, Ornstein also speculated that such a move “is more likely in the summer”.

Realistically, the transfer fee and wages involved are likely to be prohibitive this January, but, with Arteta’s supposed admiration for Nico Williams, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Arsenal make a move once the summer window opens.

6: Marcus Rashford

Could this be another ‘Arteta career save’? Marcus Rashford has been intermittently linked with Arsenal over the last few weeks. Like Williams and Barcola, he could provide an alternative to Martinelli on the left.

Rashford has fallen out of favour at Manchester United and if Arteta was able to unlock some of the form which saw him accumulate 39 Goals/Assists in the 2022/23 season, this could be a brilliant addition to the Arsenal attack.

However, there is a big question over the likelihood of this renaissance and with Borussia Dortmund remaining the favourites for Rashford’s signature, a permanent deal might be unlikely.

That said, should a permanent deal elsewhere fall through, there is every chance that Arsenal and Manchester United could reach a loan deal for Rashford, similar to the Sterling deal at the end of the summer transfer window.

7: Alexander Isak

The good news, Isak is a ready-made Arsenal player. He is skillful, fast, clinical, and can play on the wing, or through the middle. The bad news, the probability of Isak signing for Arsenal in January is close to 0. Newcastle are reportedly demanding £150m for Isak - a figure far beyond Arsenal’s supposed budget. Like Nico Williams, this is one that may be revisited in the summer.

The Verdict

With Arsenal’s financial situation, it is unlikely they will fork out big money on one of Europe’s premier talents before the 3rd of February. Arsenal might instead look to pursue an interim loan deal for a player such as Vlahovic or Rashford, to provide cover for their injury-depleted attack. A longer-term target like Williams or Šeško will probably remain a discussion point for the summer window.