With the January transfer window approaching, Arsenal are being linked with pretty much everyone.
In recent weeks, midfielders Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta have all joined Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky – who are yet to play this season – in the Arsenal treatment room.
As a result, Aaron Ramsey has moved back into the middle of the pitch but there’s no doubt the Gunners need reinforcements in that area, with the Welshman and Mathieu Flamini currently the only options.
A number of midfielders have been linked with a move to Arsenal, and Arsène Wenger admitted he’s open to making something happen next month. However, it isn’t down to him.
“We are open-minded,” said the manager. “We are not the only ones who can decide about the speed of transfers because we have to adapt to the availabilities, to the speed negotiations, to the willingness of other clubs to sell.
“We open to do something because we are short.”
The problem for Arsenal is that selling clubs hold all the cards. Halfway through the season clubs will be unwilling to sell players unless you pay over the odds, and even then they will wait until they have a replacement lined up.
As well as a midfielder, the injury records of Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sánchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may see Wenger considering a move for a striker or a wide player, and Arsenal have been linked with Aleksandr Kokorin.
Should Arsenal attempt to bring in Kokorin, Ruben Neves, William Carvalho or anyone else in January, the club will need co-operation from the selling side to get deals done quickly.