If you take a look at the Premiership table, Arsenal has scored more goals than anybody in the league, except for Manchester United. If we dive deep into team statistics, this has been achieved without consistent services of Cesc (8 league game starts), Van Persie (2 league game starts) and Nicolas Bendtner, who is yet to start a league game this season. These players contributed with 41 goals in all competitions last season for the Gunners. So, on the attacking-front, Arsenal are satisfied with their performance, especially with the purple patch enjoyed by Samir Nasri and the all-round contribution by new summer signing striker Marouane Chamakh.
Coming to the defensive aspect of things, only Chelsea, United and City have a meaner defence than the North London giants, conceding 20 goals in the league so far, and fascinatingly, more goals conceded at home than on the road. New summer signing Laurent Koscielny has had a very decent season. He has been ‘put into’ the heat of the English League straight-away and he has handled it quite well, having made to change defensive partners many a times. Another new recruit but an experienced campaigner, Sabastean Squillaci has had a good season too, albeit a few mistakes, which can be dusted off as he gather more and more Premiership experience.
Famous winter signings currently with the team:
Emmanuel Eboue
Joined Arsenal – January 2, 2005
Current Status at the club – Eboue, after the signing of Bacary Sagna, has become more of a fringe player in the side. Though he is still remembered for that infamous incident against Wigan a few years back, Eboue remains a cult-figure at Arsenal, loved by players and fans. His involvement in the team, is mostly at Right-Back position whenever Bacary needs a rest.
Abou Diaby
Joined Arsenal – January 13, 2006
Current Status at the club – Diaby, since arriving at Arsenal, almost five years back, has had an injury-prone career, having made just 100 appearances for the side. He has shown occasional brilliance with his silky moves and clever goals but his inconsistency with performance and consistency with injuries has never let him settle down at The Emirates. If fully fit, he is still a vital component in this Arsenal side.
Theo Walcott
Joined Arsenal – January 20, 2006
Current Status at the club – Theo’s Arsenal career is almost similar to that of Diaby, having spent more time with the physios than with the players on the pitch. This season, Theo has finally come off age, scoring a lot of goals and pulling off power-packed performance like the recent one against Chelsea.
Carlos Vela
Joined Arsenal – January 1, 2008
Current Status at the club – In almost three years at the club, Carlos Vela has made only three starts in the league. An exceptional talent otherwise and already a cult-hero with his ‘chipped goals’, Vela needs to find some first team action if he wants to settle down at the club. Otherwise, he might have to look for options outside the club.
Andrei Arshavin
Joined Arsenal – February 2, 2009
Current Status at the club – Arshavin has had a mixed career at Arsenal so far, loved by many, yet hated by all who fail to understand his lack of desire and commitment during some of Arsenal’s outings. Though he finds a regular place in the Arsenal line-up, the Russian needs to boost his work-ethic, otherwise there are capable players waiting in the wings to take his position.
Possible winter targets amongst many rumors:
Eden Hazard:
Though the Lille playmaker is keen on a move to Arsenal, the North London club has too many players of his type in the team. Cesc, Rosicky, Ramsey and Nasri are all playmakers and important components of the Arsenal team. Considering that Hazard is only 18 years old, Wenger might take a look at the man in the next summer, not now.
THT Verdict – Not Happening
Mark Schwarzer:
Though many believes that Arsenal had made one final bid for the Australian in the deadline day of the summer transfer window, Schwarzer was not destined for The Emirates. In fact, at the age of 38, it becomes even more difficult for the Fulham man to switch clubs across the city. If Wenger decides to sell Almunia, the young Szczney is set to become Arsenal’s Number Two. In any case, Schwarzer’s dream of playing for Arsenal won’t ever see the light of the day.
THT Verdict – Not Happening
Gary Cahill:
Arsene Wenger doesn’t ‘splash money’ on defensive signings and if market-rates are to be considered, the Bolton man can cost more than 15 Mil to be lured away the Reebok. If the situation with Thomas Vermaelen doesn’t improve, Wenger might take a last-minute call on this one, considering the congestion of fixtures for Arsenal in the last few months of the season. On the other side, if all defenders are fit, Arsene would have five men to keep happy at the rearguard for Arsenal.
THT Verdict – Less Possibility
Alex Chamberlaine:
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are ‘supposedly’ ready to bid for the ‘next Theo Walcott’ this January. If rumors are to be believed, Southampton rates the guy even above Theo. As far as Arsenal are concerned, they are quite happy with ‘their’ Theo Walcott while Samir Nasri and even Eboue can fill in the right-wing position at the club.
THT Verdict – Very Less Possibility
Confirmed winter signing so far:
Ryo Miyaichi
The Japanese forward is going to join Arsenal this January. He is currently occupied with national championships in Japan. Once he is done with that, he will join his team-mates in London.
Possible winter bids for Arsenal players:
With Arsene determined to keep his squad intact, at least, until end of season, it is going to be very difficult for clubs to lure players away from The Emirates. The players who are capable of playing for the first team, yet get less action on the pitch, are Nicolas Bendtner, Carlos Vela, Denilson and Almunia.
Nicolas Bendtner
Interested Clubs – Bayern Munich, Aston Villa
Proposed Price – 15 Million Pounds
THT Verdict – Possible
Manuel Almunia
Interested Clubs – Malaga
Proposed Price – 2 Million Pounds
THT Verdict – Possible
Carlos Vela
Interested Clubs – Real Zaragoza
Proposed Price – 8 Million Pounds
THT Verdict – Unlikely
Denilson
Interested Clubs – Barcelona, Wolfsburg
Proposed Price – 10 Million Pounds
THT Verdict – Unlikely
Current Loan Moves out of the Club:
Aaron Ramsey
Loaned to – Nottingham Forest
January Comeback – Will come back.
Armand Traore
Loaned to – Juventus
January Comeback – Will not come back.
Vito Mannone
Loaned to – Hull City
January Comeback – Unlikely
Francis Coquelin
Loaned to – Lorient
January Comeback – Unlikely
THT Final Transfer Verdict
The Professor is determined to keep most of his resources intact for the season, and thereby it is going to be a quiet transfer window for the Gunners with the only possibility of Nicolas Bendtner and Manuel Almunia leaving if the bids are ‘appropriate’ enough. Arsenal might go the extent of adding one more defensive midfielder as a cover for Alex Song, but no names have come up even in rumors, for that particular position.