Arsenal have already lost Granit Xhaka to serious injury this season, which has ruled him out for three months. In addition to injuries that can strike at any moment, the Africa Cup of Nations is also fast approaching and Mikel Arteta's squad is expected to be impacted.
Thomas Partey will join up with Ghana whilst Mohamed Elneny is likely to represent Egypt. This leaves Sambi Lokonga, Maitland-Niles and Granit Xhaka as the only set of central midfielders within the first team.
The Arsenal players that do participate in AFCON could miss up to five games between January 9th and February 6th.
This will of course be a big concern for Mikel Arteta, whose side is enjoying a ten-game unbeaten run. With the Gunners two points behind Liverpool in fourth place and three points behind current champions Man City in second, the Spaniard will be looking to close the gap even further over the coming weeks.
It's a task that means Arsenal need as many of their star players as possible but with the likes of Partey, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all set to depart for the tournament after Boxing Day, the challenge only gets tougher.
However, there are ways to work around the lack of depth that will emerge within the Arsenal squad, with January also presenting the winter transfer window which is open for a month.
Arteta may well look to ask the board for a short-term fix, someone who could come in for a six-month period and provide extra cover in the midfield area, just like we saw with Martin Odegaard at the beginning of this year.
One name in particular that has been linked with a return to Arsenal is Aaron Ramsey. The Wales international joined Serie A giants Juventus in 2019 after spending 11 years in north London but now finds himself out of favour in Turin and reportedly on the transfer market.
There were rumours that the Italian club could terminate the player's contract, but it is believed a transfer is the preferred option.
At 30 years of age and possibly available for a loan if his contract isn't terminated, Ramsey could prove to be an enticing option for Edu. A short-term deal with lowered wages would suit all parties involved, whilst it hands Ramsey the opportunity to spark his career into life once again at a club he has successful history with.
In addition to the above, it would ultimately provide experienced cover and a top-quality player to what would be a light Arsenal midfield.
Despite this, any potential move now appears to be under threat following Eddie Howe's arrival at Newcastle. The new Magpies boss is keen to strengthen his side and Ramsey is a transfer target for the Toon Army, according to GOAL.
The report states that both Everton and Newcastle have expressed interest in the former Arsenal star, but no formal offers have been made.
With Newcastle under wealthy new ownership and keen to provide their manager with the necessary resources to bolster his squad, the Premier League side could prove to be strong competition for Arsenal if they were also keen on a move for Ramsey.
You would like to think that Arteta and Edu already have a plan in place ahead of January, with names being considered in the process. But the winter window can be a difficult one and with Ramsey appearing to be a strong yet rare option available to clubs, Arsenal must evaluate their options quickly.
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