It's become extremely obvious what Arsenal must do in the January transfer window
Arsenal's squad looks well set up to compete on four fronts once again this season, although Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta must not rest on their laurels when it comes to the January transfer window.
The Gunners were extremely close to winning a treble last season, losing both the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals, whilst claiming the Premier League title. Ultimately, injuries were the primary inhibiting factor in their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple.
In the Carabao Cup final against City in March, Arteta was without Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, while Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka limped through the occasion. When they suffered their FA Cup quarter-final upset against Southampton in April, the North Londoners were without Timber, Merino, Saka, Eze, Piero Hincapie and Leandro Trossard, while Odegaard had just returned from another fitness setback.
Come May, Arsenal's squad was worn out for the Champions League final, and Arteta was forced to deploy an unfit Saka, Odegaard and Havertz, while Cristhian Mosquera started at right-back.
If Arteta wants to avoid these issues again, he must urge the higher-ups at the Emirates to reinforce the squad in January. If they do this right, there should be no reason multiple honours cannot be won this time around.
Arsenal's squad depth is ridiculous. They're arguably deeper across the pitch than any other team on the planet.
In every single position, there are at least two serious options who can be relied upon to play in that role and deliver against high-level opposition. However, that arguably cannot be said of two specific positions - left wing and striker.
On the left, Eze is currently deputising for Christoz Tzolis. While the England international shouldn't be ruled out entirely on this flank, recent evidence suggests he cannot be relied upon to play regularly in this role. He's never really been a pure touchline winger throughout his career, and his declining physical traits mean it would be a strange time for him to pivot to being more of an out-and-out wide player.
Rarely do you see central players evolve into wide players late in their career. Usually, this evolution is reversed. Eze doesn't quite have the burst he used to have, which meant he could be used in wider roles if needed. He showed signs towards the end of last season of developing his playmaking skills, making him more suited to an attacking midfield role. Arsenal have evidently tried to shoehorn him into this left-wing role because they couldn't get a deal over the line for a natural winger.
Up front, they have a different issue. While with Eze, it's not a question of talent and rather a debate around fit, with Viktor Gyokeres it's certainly a question of talent.
The Swede simply doesn't have the technical level required to play at the elite level, and he's no longer providing the output in front of goal which allows you to accept this lack of technical quality. If Arsenal don't have Havertz available for a stretch of matches, it looks increasingly like that would be a major issue for them.
Thus, address these points of failure in the squad in January, and Arsenal will have a complete squad ready to compete for multiple trophies.
Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha has been linked with the Gunners this week, and he would certainly help fill the left wing void. Meanwhile, many expect Eli Junior Kroupi to be the subject of interest from the Arsenal this winter.
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