The year is nearly over, and Arsenal could yet end 2024 in the same place they concluded the previous season, in second place. The January window presents an opportunity for the club to sign players to try and close the nine-point gap to Liverpool.
However, the plans for the summer could yet supersede the desires of supporters for this winter. Decisions to overhaul the look of the team have been in motion for some time, with some players having been outgrown while others see their contracts expire at the end of the season.
David Raya will need to find a new partner with on-loan goalkeeper Neto set to leave at the end of the season. Arsenal were very keen on Espanyol’s Joan Garcia at the end of the summer window but were priced out by the Spaniard side who were in a strong position to demand more – but come the summer that resolve and the player’s own demands may indeed help the Gunners’ position.
In defence, the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior could all be moved in with injuries and interest from elsewhere being a permanent fixture of their time with the club. Myles Lewis-Skelly has already begun to make an impact and will fill the role left by one, but there could yet be a return to Jorrel Hato who has been of keen interest from the Gunners in the past.
In midfield, both Jorginho’s and Thomas Partey’s deals are due to expire, and there have been no suggestions that either will be renewed. This creates quite a void in the middle, and Arsenal definitely need to invest again in a defensive midfielder.
