Arsenal were left frustrated in the January transfer window, adding no players to Mikel Arteta’s squad, as the rest of the league strengthened around them.
The Gunners’ ensemble is thin up front, with Kai Havertz the only recognised senior striker available to Arteta.
While the North London club reportedly tried to sign a number nine, they were unable to get anything over the line.
Fans are furious about this lack of activity, with injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus raising concerns about the lack of depth.
With a London rival adding a former Arsenal player to their ranks, Arteta may regret the club’s transfer impotence in a few months.
Former Arsenal player Willian set to re-sign for Fulham
With Arsenal stagnant in the transfer market, Premier League counterparts Fulham have opted to bolster their squad outside of the window, an option that could be available to the Gunners.
The Cottagers are set to re-sign Willian, who left Craven Cottage in the summer and is now a free agent after cutting ties with Olympiacos abruptly in December.
The winger netted ten goals in 67 appearances for the West London outfit between 2022 and 2024.
Marco Silva has pounced on the opportunity to bring the former Chelsea man back to Fulham, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that he’s currently undergoing a medical ahead of the move.
Former Arsenal stars Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi, as well as loanee Reiss Nelson, could well be impacted by Willian’s arrival.
Silva also has the likes of Harry Wilson and Adama Traore available to him, so an ex-Gunner is likely to suffer in regard to game time.
Nelson was ruled out for ten weeks in December, and it’s plausible that Willian’s signing means the Hale End graduate’s injury is more serious than first reported.
Willian becomes the latest former Arsenal man to be plying his trade at Fulham, joining the aforementioned Smith Rowe, Iwobi and Nelson, as well as Bernd Leno.
The 36-year-old signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2020, and delivered a dismal single season at the Emirates, scoring once in 37 appearances.
Willian could haunt Arsenal this season
If Willian proves a success at Fulham this season, there may be a part of Arteta which wishes he’d made a short-term move to sign the player that struggled previously in N5.
Arteta reportedly wanted Willian to stay an additional year before he terminated his contract in 2021, indicating that the Spaniard certainly still admires the wide man.
The former Brazil international impressed for Fulham in the last two seasons, demonstrating a capacity to still play at the highest level.
While he wouldn’t have been an ideal solution for Arteta, he would’ve provided necessary cover and competition for first choice options.
Willian now has the opportunity to haunt Arsenal later this season, when the Gunners host Fulham at the beginning of April.
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