Arsenal had hoped this would be the season their title dreams came true, but those hopes are fading fast and swift action is needed in the market
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No team earned more Premier League points than Arsenal during 2024. Much to the Gunners' dismay, that was not enough to win them last season's title, nor to see them move into the new year top of the table. In fact, they are nine points behind pace-setters Liverpool heading into their first fixture of 2025.
After coming so close in each of the last two campaigns, the desire within those London Colney walls to end a two-decade long wait to become kings of England again is stronger than ever. Their window for the season is closing though and they need to make some changes in order to gun down the Reds.
There are a few items for Mikel Arteta and Co. to check off their to-do list for January if they are to ensure the 2024-25 season goes down as a successful one. They can't afford to stand still when they are in the chasing pack.
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportFind Saka cover
Arsenal have already had to do without captain Martin Odegaard due to injury for a sizeable chunk of this season already, and now they must soldier on without Bukayo Saka, who could miss up to three months of action after a hamstring tear.
Arteta has already stressed that internal solutions are available to him, with many of his forwards capable of playing on the right to fill the creative and physical void left by Saka. Gabriel Martinelli has taken up the immediate responsibility of stepping into his shoes so far, using his slightly different skillset to scamper down the line and act as a more traditional winger. The upside of this profile was evident in their 5-1 thumping of Crystal Palace after Saka was forced off, though Ipswich managed to slow this approach down with an ultra-defensive setup despite Arsenal running out 1-0 winners.
There are others who could deputise for Saka, with Arteta's suggestion that Kai Havertz could play there perhaps the most intriguing solution suggested so far. Remember, it wasn't until around this time last season that the German moved from midfield to attack. We may have another whacky experiment on our hands to ignite the title charge after all.
In regards to any potential new signings, there have been extremely tentative links to Bayern Munich duo Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman, but one name pops off the screen unlike any other.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe Rashford gamble
It's him. Of course it's him. Of course it's Marcus Rashford. Why wouldn't it be Marcus Rashford?
This isn't about replacing Saka like-for-like, rather to simply add more goals to a stale open-play attack in need of some fresh impetus – the demolition of Palace was an outlier across the season and Arsenal have undoubtedly slowed down when it comes to creating chances on live balls. Rashford too has already cited his desire for a 'new challenge' and the path to redemption via Arteta's Arsenal is one well trodden by the likes of Havertz and the recently rejuvenated Gabriel Jesus.
Manchester United are going to have a tough time trying to sell their homegrown star, in part due to his wages and in part due to his nose-dive form over the last 18 months or so, and it would be typically opportunistic of Arsenal to go all in on Rashford at this lowest ebb.
It would, however, also go against Arteta's mantra for calmness and control, whether that's on the pitch or off it. Nine points is a rather sizeable gap to chop away at, and maybe violently veering left when everyone expects you to head right would provide the shot in the arm needed to get that challenge off the ground. They might not even need to fork out a transfer fee in order to acquire him, with some reports suggesting United are open-minded about a loan. It's not like they'd be letting him leave for a competitive rival at this point, either.
Rashford insists his best years are still ahead of him – whether anyone whose best years are still ahead of them would feel the need to say that is a debate for another day – and it was only two seasons ago he looked like the best forward in the league. If that player is still in there, Arteta could rediscover him again.
Getty Images SportBring forward new striker plans
Maybe Arsenal's search for goals, to make up for the impending Saka shortfall or otherwise, shouldn't lead them down the Rashford path of uncertainty, rather a more reliable source instead. That's easier said than done, particularly in the January window.
The two out-and-out strikers most persistently linked with the Gunners are Swedish duo Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, though they come with their own particular risks. In the case of Isak, Newcastle are said to be demanding at least £150m for an injury-prone player with over three years left to run on their deal, while Gyokeres turns 27 in 2025 and is yet to play in one of Europe's top five leagues.
This is before you even consider whether Newcastle or Sporting CP would want to do business in January. From an Arsenal perspective though, this could be the month to get a march on their rivals ahead of what will surely be a summer of striker transfers. It wouldn't hurt to at least put the feelers out there, would it?
Getty Images SportGet Sterling sharp again
Since joining Arsenal on a deadline day loan from Chelsea at the end of the summer window, Raheem Sterling has played only 426 minutes across 11 matches. In that time, he's registered a measly one goal and two assists.
It's been an underwhelming period of his career to this point, but the Arsenal faithful should not lose hope in Sterling just yet. His moment is coming and he needs to be ready for it upon his return from injury in the coming weeks.
The primary reason behind Sterling's move to the Emirates Stadium in the first place was the influence of Arteta, the man widely credited with making the winger the scoring extraordinaire he turned into at Manchester City during their respective days up at the Etihad Stadium. It was Arteta who coached him the art of arriving at the last line to score tap-in after tap-in, which has become Sterling's signature move.
Arsenal will need some meaningful contributions from Sterling at some point before the season is out. It's in their interests to keep him on his toes and prepare him.