I hope we get a big name striker. Just wondering why you think that's not likely?

I have always believed that it's actually easier to get players in Jan, albeit the talent pool is smaller because there is more competition in the summer with new ffp/psr quotas. Reyes is a prime example of that. Unless Arteta has his heart set on someone who we are unlikely to get anyway?

Obviously we don't know the small print of Neto's deal, I think at the bare minimum Arteta would target a new goalkeeper. Neto can then be dumped or retained as 3rd choice till the summer.

Clubs rarely spend in January (think €25m Dragusin and some kid City bought for a lot but who has remained at his old club on loan were the only notable signings at the beginning of the year). The Chelsea mad winter was an outlier more than a norm. Clubs don't want to sell, and unless they have issues, most top players prefer to wait for the summer when the options are greater and the timing is better. That is why the likes of Trossard and Jorginho are gettable in the winter, cheap, decent squad players but not that massive difference makers.

I can't see us spending €70m+ this winter, let alone on one player.

Reyes wouldn't be the type of player I would call a big signing. He was a youngster with masses of potential and at a decent level, but he was more to back up what we had to start with.

I assume Arteta wants a youngster with masses of potential in the striking position? Unless Rashford falls in our lap, I doubt there are any ready-made attackers available, who can make an immediate impact?

Yeah, that is the type I think we might be able to sign if we can find one. Rather than a big name, big fee striker with an already high reputation like Isak, Gyokeres, Vlahovic, Sesko.

I've never thought Arsenal would go back for Isak. Gyokeres has a release clause, Vlahovic was booed by his own crowd and Juve are worried his stock will probably be even lower in the summer, tbf we wanted Sesko before he was famous. Similarly, Osimhen has a release.

So if there is the will, there is a way.

However, I think Arteta may want to target a younger striker anyway. I don't think he is over his Havertz experiment.

So, you think it is unlikely we will get a big name striker...

I suppose it's the difference between what I want them to do compared to what I think they will do.

I desperately hope/want them to take the risk on someone like Vlahovic/Osimhen even pay Goykeres release. The lift that would give the dressing room would be the kind that can win you a Champions League.

I expect them to buy a younger striker who Arteta can groom behind Havertz.

Arteta likes players who can play in at least 2 positions so I don't think he would like an out and out striker.
Thomas Partey is a midfielder who he plays at right back

Not always. It depends on the position imo.

At the moment Havertz is that player. false 9. But really Martinelli isn't direct enough for that formation. It didn't surprise me that we were linked to Nico Williams. A fully motivated Rashford would be ideal. (though I doubt utd will sell him to us at reasonable price or if Rashford still has the fire).

Arteta said he bought Havertz to replace Xhaka and a true no.9 would have worked with that imo. Jesus/Havertz never looked on.

So he recently bought Merino and he looks better with Jesus who is not a proper no.9 but much closer to it than Havertz. Maybe Merino will form a relationship with Havertz but I doubt it. At the moment Havertz makes no runs for him.

comment by Comment deleted by Article Creator (U22980)
posted 19 minutes ago
Arteta likes players who can play in at least 2 positions so I don't think he would like an out and out striker.
Thomas Partey is a midfielder who he plays at right back
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Atletico played Partey at right back, so hardly new for him. But if White, Tomiyasu and Calafiori were fit he wouldn't play there.

It all depends on our injury record. Tomiyasiu, Zinchenko and Calafiori are unreliable. Timber is also a candidad I always fear to get injured.

The left forward side is a concern. Trossy started the game yesterday and it was one of his better games as a starter. Martinelli was rested but hasnt any kind of consistency. All depends on our right side with Saka doing kind of magic.

Gabtiel Jesus had a good game yesterday. After a year he owed Arsenal something. It remains to be seen if he can replicate that kind of performance and it depends also on his teammates.

I think that the forward situation needs to be addressed. It's not bedone to buy a CF in my view. We also need to give Saka competition. Looks like Sterling isnt the man who Arteta trusts. The January transfer window is not going to solve our problems. Clubs wont sell their best players and the market for CF is rare.

Forget that we also get Benny Blanco back in January. I really can't wait which helps Bukayo a lot.