The January transfer window is now open so that means loads of new shiny Arsenal players, right?

Well, nope.

Arsene Wenger hates the January window more than he hates the summer one. Prices are inflated as clubs don’t want to sell mid-season and trying to get a player integrated in the middle of a campaign is far from ideal.

Speaking just before Christmas, Wenger gave us an idea of what we could expect this month.

Asked if the return of Lucas and Welbeck meant he didn’t have to dip into the transfer market, he replied, “Of course, because suddenly we have Perez, we have Giroud we have Sanchez, we have Welbeck, suddenly up front, Walcott, Chamberlain who is nearly a striker, so we have plenty of options offensively,” before adding, “Defensively we are not in the need at the moment.”

So that leaves midfield and in goal.

We aren’t going to buy a keeper, at least not until the summer so we can park that.

What about midfield?

Again, I don’t see this happening.

Although we are without Santi Cazorla, Wenger will not buy a player on a long-term contract to solve a short-term problem. With Jack Wilshere out on loan, Wenger might already feel he has a replacement at the club.

Unless an unbelievable player becomes available unexpectedly, I don’t think we will see a midfielder arrive at the club.

So, yes that’s it – I don’t see Arsenal signing anyone for the first team during this window.

Out

Mathieu Debuchy

He wants to leave, the club would probably like to be rid of him and his moaning mouth but a lot depends on his fitness. Currently out with a hamstring problem, he’s not expected back until the middle of the month at the earliest.

Carl Jenkinson

A number of clubs are interested in talking Jenks on loan and I don’t think you’d find too many at Arsenal heartbroken over the idea. That being said, it would leave us very light in that position, especially if we get rid of Debuchy. After Gabriel’s brief stint at right-back, a position he has played in before, perhaps the boss feels we have enough cover there.

Yaya Sanogo

Out of contract in the summer and completely out of the picture at Arsenal, Yaya Sanogo could be shipped out in January, either on loan or permanently. That depends, of course, on his fitness. As nobody knows where he is, no one knows what is wrong with him. He’s not even listed as injured on Arsenal.com although Wenger did mention him at the start of the month saying they can’t explain his latest injury because it’s ‘confidential’.

“He had a real medical problem that I cannot explain to you here because it is a confidential problem,” Wenger said.

“[It is] not a secret problem, but it is medical, I cannot speak about that.

“He has no life-threatening problem but he had a long-term injury, and I am not specialised enough to explain to you exactly what it is in his calf.

“But we had to rest him completely.”

Ok then.

Loans for the following youngsters are also a possibility:

  • Chuba Akpom
  • Jeff Reine-Adelaide
  • Matt Macey
  • Krystian Bielik
  • Gedion Zelalem
  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles
  • Stephy Mavididi
  • Chris Willock
  • Edward Nketiah