Arsenal could still do transfer business even after the winter window has slammed its door.
Arsenal to conduct late business
The January transfer window has been closed on Monday. The Premier League sides now can no longer make deals with each other or any other teams outside of England. Although, the Gunners could still close some deals.
Mikel Arteta’s side chose not to add big names to the squad this time. They haven’t made a mid-season signing. Last summer they signed Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, David Raya, Raheem Sterling and Neto.
Both Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher wanted them to bring in a attacker. They have missed a lot due to injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus this season. As per the football pundits, they needed a striker to compete with Liverpool. The League leaders Liverpool have been sitting at the top unbothered.
However, Arteta’s team have faith with their current bunch of players. Even though the market is closed, more business can be done.
According to Express Sport, more moves may happen after the winter window is closed. In other parts of the football world the transfer window is still open. In Turkey it’s open til February 11, Portugal (Feb 4), MLS (April 23) and Australia (Feb 12) among other leagues in the world.
They still can sign a free agent at any point.
Striker Diego Costa, former Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Wolves player is without a club and a free agent. He can be signed at any point throughout the season. There are many forwards who are without a club. The north London club still has options to make some deals.
‘Arsenal left themselves short this window’ as per Jamie Carragher
Jammie Carragher said that despite the Gunners’ great 5-1 win over Manchester City, they didn’t took much efforts to add more strength to their attacking line.
The win over City took them to second place in the Premier League. They are six points behind leaders Liverpool. The Reds have outscored them this campaign.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “This is exactly what Thierry Henry said after the show on Sunday. He said because Arsenal have won so emphatically, the talk about them bringing in an attacking player or a striker will go.
“He felt they still needed one. Not so much because they scored five goals, but that’s the kind of game where you really respect Kai Havertz. When you’re playing against one of the top teams you want your striker to come back and help defend.
“I think it’s in the games they’re expected to win where they may create chances and they’re not finishing. You think Kai Havertz in the first half (vs Man City).
“What we saw of Havertz in the second half, that’s what you want. They’re leaving it late and I’m not quite sure the player who improves them – there are very few in Europe – one of the best teams in the Premier League. They’re one of the best teams in the Champions League, there are very few players who can improve what they’ve got.”
“I think it’ll be difficult to bring in somebody but without another special player in attack, I don’t think they’ve got enough to win the league.”
Thierry Henry on his former side’s winter business
Henry feels that his former side’s victory over Man City may have changed the opinion for their need for attackers.
On Sky Sports, speaking alongside Carragher, he said: “Always Arsenal fans say to me, we need a nine. Nobody is going to ask for a nine after this game.
“Yeah, they should still ask. It’s not because you won 5-1 that you don’t need a nine. We’ve been, as fans, asking for a nine for two years, four transfer windows. We still didn’t see it. You can’t be calling for a nine when you can’t put the ball in the back of the net and then when you do, forget it.”
“You call for a nine all the time. I don’t often believe in the January transfer window, that’s only me. I keep saying all the time, sometimes you don’t get the player you want, wait for it, and go and get it in the summer. We haven’t done that yet.”
Author’s Opinion
Arsenal’s huge three points against Man City surely has made the no.9 debate fade for a while. The club was linked with many top centre-forwards this winter, but no deal occurred.
Now let’s see if they can make any deals happen or eventually they’ll wait for the summer.
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