When Arsenal spent the best part of £140 million this summer, they probably envisaged having a fairly relaxed January. However, with the club enduring a diabolical first half of the season, and undergoing a managerial change, they are likely to be pressed into action. Although happy with their attacking options, The Athletic understands Arsenal are looking to strengthen in both defence and midfield. After their vast expenditure in the previous window, there is however an acceptance that they may have to be creative when it comes to finding solutions.



Arsenal’s head of football, Raul Sanllehi, seems to regard the January transfer window with a degree of suspicion.“I don’t believe much in the winter window,” a sceptical Sanllehi said in 2018. “There are exceptions. But if you have the right planification [sic] in the summer and the team are performing at the level you expect, you should not go to that window or try to avoid...