Arsenal's once 'imminent' transfer may now be impossible to complete as five-year deal signed
If you were to ask two Arsenal supporters what the priority should be in the January transfer window, chances are they wouldn't be able to agree as there may only be room for one signing, if any.
The Gunners were active in the summer, spending £200million+ to recruit Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber in addition to a season-long loan deal for goalkeeper David Raya. That outlay is expected to have some sort of impact on a potential move for Pedro Neto, for example, as he is reportedly valued at £60million by Wolves.
Meanwhile, there's a growing belief — not just among some Arsenal fans, but Gary Neville too in particular — that Mikel Arteta needs to add a proven goalscorer to his attack: «You've got to have a couple of players in your team, at least one, who have that smell of where the ball is going to land,» the former Manchester United defender said on his podcast when reflecting on the 2-2 draw in the North London Derby last month.
«Not a poacher, the days of poachers are gone that just play off another striker and two up top. We’re not in that moment anymore. When you think of the forward lines we’ve seen at Barcelona with David Villa, Pedro and Lionel Messi all those years ago – none of them are real strikers as in goal-sniffers. Sergio Aguero was, but we’re not even talking about that, we’re talking about someone who knows where to be.
»Gabriel Jesus, when he robbed James Maddison, these are big moments in the game and big things. You've got to be on the move and be sniffing, smelling, anticipating, and Arsenal haven't got that. I really like this Arsenal team and they could go on to win a title or finish second, have a great season and win trophies without that type of player, but it became obvious in this
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