With the January transfer window quickly approaching, we look at the key areas Arsenal must strengthen in if they are to get in the top four this campaign.

Since replacing Arsene Wenger in the summer, Unai Emery has already made a host of chances to the Arsenal setup; bringing his fresh ideas and new arrivals to the club.

One of those new arrivals was Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira - who was instrumental in the Gunners 22-match unbeaten run and without him Arsenal would have lost many of the games they have won.

Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Stephen Lichtsteiner and 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi were also brought in during the summer and have played key roles so far this season.

Despite the new arrivals having set the ground running at the Emirates, there are still missing figures in the current setup and singings that need to be made in January.

Right Wing

With Henrikh Mkhitaryan picking up a recent knock and being sidelined for up to nine weeks, and already struggling with life in north London since arriving as part of a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez in January, a right-winger needs to be brought in.

Arsenal have been linked with some notable talents ever since the summer with right-wing being an inadequate area for the Gunners.

Boca Juniors’ Christian Pavon is on the radar for Unai Emery’s side according to various media outlets with Arsenal apparently lining up a £40m deal for the Argentinian youngster.

Nicolas Pepe, a French Ivorian winger, who currently plays his football in France, has been rumoured to be on Arsenal’s radar, but with The Express claiming that Lille will not let the right-sided winger go for less than £72m; this one seems unlikely.

Central Defence

With Unai Emery bringing the three at the back system to the Emirates Stadium and Rob Holding being ruled out for up to nine-months, a centre-back is a necessity for Arsenal in January.

Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis have been sublime for Arsenal so far this season, as was Holding before he picked up a rather nasty injury, but an extra central defender was and is needed for Unai Emery’s side.

Chelsea’s Gary Cahill and Manchester United’s Eric Baily have both been linked with Arsenal amid their defensive struggles. Baily produced a pinpoint performance in Manchester United’s 2-2 Draw with Arsenal earlier this month and would ensure the defensive stability Arsenal need at the back.

According to The Mirror Emery is known to be an admirer of Baily from his time in Spain prior to his £30m move to Old Trafford.

Gary Cahill has been told by Chelsea boss Mauricio Sarri that he can exit the club in January through a loan-deal before his contract expires in the summer. The former England captain has been hounded out at Chelsea with a new manager coming in with new ideas.

Personally, I would like to see Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake in an Arsenal shirt. Ake has been immense so far this season for Eddie Howe’s side and will offer a lot more defensively to the current Arsenal setup.

Left Back

The left-back role at Arsenal has also become concerning as of late with Nacho Monreal being used more centrally and Sead Kolasinac therefore being the only option for Emery in that particular position. Ainsley Maitland Niles is yet to make that ground-breaking run in the first team, and is unreliable at this moment in time.

Valencia’s Jose Luis Gaya has beckoned as an option for Arsenal in the left-back role if they could lure him away from Spanish football. Gaya already has over 130 senior appearances under his belt at Valencia and would be a quintessential signing for the Gunners.

The 23-year-old has been at Valencia since he was 11 so would be particularly difficult to tempt him away from the Mestalla.

Surprisingly, Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno has emerged as a potential candidate for Unai Emery - who worked with the Spaniard during his time at Sevilla.

Every Arsenal supporter and also rival clubs will laugh if Moreno is brought to north London, but is it really as funny as it seems?

Moreno wouldn’t be a blockbuster singing but he would certainly strengthen Arsenal’s attacking and defensive weaknesses down the left-hand side; he could also adapt to the left wing back role due to his attacking instincts.

The 26-year-old can definitely provide the above and with the back-three behind him, he will not need to do as much defending as does at Liverpool - playing in the left-back position.

He is out-of-favour at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and with a manager that he’s previously worked under at the club, Moreno is likely to fancy his chances at Arsenal, and he would be a steal for around £10m.

Left Wing

Left-wing isn’t as much as an issue as the aforementioned but with Iwobi not providing as much as is needed, it would be good to get a left-sided winger in to give him a run for his money.

Ismaila Sarr - who currently plays his football at French club Stade Rennais - has set the ground running in France; scoring eight and assisting six in all competitions so far this season.

According to media in Sarr’s home country of Senegal, Arsenal are set to offer Stade Rennais €16m and Emi Martinez for the 20-year-old winger. If it was to take place, it wouldn’t be a bad deal for Arsenal with transfermarkt.co.uk currently valuing him at £20m.

Sarr would add a lot more goal threat than Alex Iwobi currently does down the left flank and would be an ideal recruitment for the Gunners as he could be at the club for many years to come.

Stade Rennais will be expecting big for the youngster mainly due to his age, experience and obviously his undoubtable talent, but with them looking to strengthen in the goalkeeper department, Martinez could be the essential part of the deal.