The unreliable fitness levels of Arsenal’s left-back options this season could force them into the transfer market this January, but who could they look to sign?

Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal and Ainsley Maitland-Niles haven’t all been fit at the same time at any point so far this campaign.

First, Monreal and Kolasinac were out, then Maitland-Niles suffered a fracture and Stephan Lichtsteiner had to fill in. Then Monreal returned for a while before he and Kolasinac both suffered hamstring injuries at the same time. Kolasinac has returned, but Monreal’s return date just keeps being pushed back every time Arsenal discuss it.

Rumours at the start of the summer suggested Sven Mislintat was interested in a goalkeeper, a centre-back, a holding midfielder and a left-back in the window. He signed three of the four, but the club made no headway on the left-hand side.

It’s hard to argue the injury situation is going to make Arsenal any less likely to go back again this winter. Let’s have a look at who the media believe are on Mislintat’s shortlist.

Ben Chilwell

• Age: 21
• Current club: Leicester City
• Contract until: 2024
• Market value: £13.5m

Chilwell has been linked with Arsenal a lot in previous years, and those links have started to resurface this season despite the full-back’s new deal to stay in Leicester.

That’s as a result of the youngster’s impressive Premier League performances, including one against the Gunners, where he forced the opening goal in off Hector Bellerin.

Chilwell is strong in the air, a competent dribbler and a good chance creator, which are important attributes if you’re going to play in an Arsenal team. When the team’s full-backs aren’t making chances, the whole team suffers, as we’ve seen on a few occasions already this season.

If Chilwell is interested in making a step up and Arsenal are willing to pay a premium to buy him out of his contract, he could be worth the investment.

Click ‘Next’ for more Arsenal-linked left-backs ahead of the January transfer window

Ryan Sessegnon

• Age: 18
• Current club: Fulham FC
• Contract until: 2020
• Market value: £31.5m

18-year-old Sessegnon is one of the rising stars of English football. Despite his age, he’s already made 96 appearances for Fulham, scoring 24 goals and assisting 13.

The youngster can play anywhere along the left-hand side, and he’s split his time between left-back and left-midfield/wing this season.

That could suit Arsenal perfectly, given their play style involves full-backs getting forward a lot. For example, Hector Bellerin was a right-winger before he joined the club.

According to Goal, Arsenal have been “keeping a close eye” on Sessegnon. They aren’t the only ones though. Reports late last year suggested Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham have all spent time scouting the youngster since his breakthrough.

That interest is only going to have increased now that he’s playing regularly in the Premier League. It wouldn’t be easy to sign the Fulham man, but it could be well worth it if he reaches his potential.

Click ‘Next’ for more Arsenal-linked left-backs ahead of the January transfer window

Jose Gaya

• Age: 23
• Current club: Valencia CF
• Contract until: 2023
• Market value: £31.5m

At just 23 years of age, Gaya has already played 161 matches for Valencia’s first team. This season he’s once again a regular in the starting eleven, making 11 league appearances for the full 90 minutes in their 12 matches so far.

There were reports last year that Gaya’s release clause would drop to £25.4m over the summer, a very decent price for such a young and experienced player. However, this was increased to £88m when he extended his deal back in May, so some negotiation would be required to bring down the price.

Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly both also in the race for his signature alongside Arsenal. The Gunners might have an advantage though, as they’ve dealt with Valencia a lot in the past.

In the summer of 2017, Arsenal sold Gabriel Paulista to the Spanish side. They then followed that up with the transfer of Francis Coquelin in January. Before that, Arsene Wenger signed Shkodran Mustafi the previous year. Perhaps the Spanish international could be the next transfer in the saga.

Click ‘Next’ for more Arsenal-linked left-backs ahead of the January transfer window

Kenedy

• Age: 22
• Current club: Newcastle United (on loan from Chelsea)
• Contract until: 2020
• Market value: £9m

Kenedy has mostly played in left-midfield since joining Newcastle United, but in the past, he made most of his appearances at left wing-back or left-back for Chelsea. That could help him fit in at Arsenal, as the club tend to use full-backs that like to get forward, and have used wing-backs on one or two occasions under Unai Emery.

The Brazilian is currently on loan at Newcastle United, but he has less than two years left on his parent club’s contract this summer. He has one goal and one assist in 12 games so far during his second loan spell with Newcastle.

If Sarri can’t offer him game time, as he clearly couldn’t this season, Kenedy might try and force a move away.

According to reports from the Mirror earlier this year, Arsenal are interested in the 22-year-old, and they join Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in chasing his signature.

Click ‘Next’ for more Arsenal-linked left-backs ahead of the January transfer window

Faouzi Ghoulam

• Age: 27
• Current club: Napoli
• Contract until: 2022
• Market value: £22.5m

Faouzi Ghoulam is a bit older, and probably a bit more expensive, but he’s an option to come in and immediately challenge for a first-team spot, especially with the injury records of Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac.

The media linked the Algerian left-back with Arsenal a lot last year before the club eventually signed the Bosnian instead.

Then, in February, the Italian media reported that the main reason behind Napoli extending Ghoulam’s contract to 2022 was that they’d heard of interest from Arsenal. They were trying to “avoid any surprises” in the January window.

His new deal has a €35m (£31m) release clause, which still isn’t a crazy amount to pay in today’s market.

When available, Ghoulam has shown a lot of quality, and he helped Napoli to 10 wins in 11 matches at the start of the last league season. The only thing holding Arsenal back would be his current injury problems, as he only recently returned to the bench after knee surgery.

We’ll see what kind of form he’s in when he returns to the pitch.