The January transfer window has shown to be a period where teams make both smart moves and rash decisions. Arsenal need to make sure their choices reflect that of a side chasing a top-four place as not to derail their momentum.
For Arsenal, the need continues to dominate the midfield and striker portions of the squad. Mikel Arteta has seen his side decimated with absences through injuries, positive cases of Covid-19 and the four players away at the African Cup of Nations.
However, whilst others such as Newcastle United, Everton and Aston Villa have moved quickly to secure reinforcement during the domestic cup competition weeks ahead of the Premier League’s return, the Gunners are yet to see any new additions.
In fact, instead, Edu and Arteta made the odd decision to sanction the loan departure of Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Roma. The England international would have been a blessing had he not left, likely starting against both Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
Interestingly, Arsenal have seen Newcastle United pull off an intriguing transfer they themselves can take note of. Many neutral supporters found it odd to see the Magpies secure a £20 million move for Burnley striker Chris Wood.
However, tactics behind the transfer become clearer when considering the 30-year-old will no longer be available for one of Newcastle’s main relegation rivals for the season.
Arsenal themselves are in a battle to secure a qualification spot for the Champions League and looking to their rivals, they might be able to secure a cunning transfer of their own.
Manchester United are reported to have offered both Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund the opportunity to sign Donny van de Beek on loan according to the Manchester Evening News.
However, with Arsenal having done business with United in the recent past for both Danny Welbeck and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, perhaps there’s an unlikely line for a push of their own to get the Dutchman.
So much was hyped around the former Ajax man linked with the likes of Real Madrid, however, it simply hasn’t worked out at Old Trafford.
Arsenal should seriously consider if they can offer a motivated Van de Beek the opportunity to come to north London, prove his doubters and former employers wrong and maybe help knock United further down the pecking order of favourites for a top-four place in the league.
The likelihood of this is of course very slim and those questioning why United would consider strengthening one of their rivals have all the right to do so.
However, in a world where Arsenal have already taken players deemed surplus to requirements at United and then seen Welbeck knock them out of an FA Cup quarter-final, perhaps the idea isn’t as farfetched as the first glance suggests.
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