Timber returns, Partey in midfield, striker transfer? How Arsenal could line up after January

It's been a deafeningly quiet transfer window for Arsenal so far. The Gunners are a team who could certainly do with a few additions to bolster their squad right now, but with just five days remaining till the market closes on Thursday it does not look as though they're close to a deal. That's certainly not for a lack of trying though.

“At the moment, it is very difficult," Mikel Arteta said of his side's prospects in the market last month. «We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

“That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

“But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.”

The closest deal to occurring as things stand is an exit for Cedric Soares. The Portuguese international is attracting interest from Galatasaray and Besiktas over a potential permanent transfer this month. In terms of incomings it looks likely to be quite sparse however. This will be a blow to fans who had been hoping to see a striker come in this month. Names like Ivan Toney and Alexander Isak have been mentioned,