Arsenal’s plans for the upcoming January transfer window may well have been impacted by Bukayo Saka’s injury.
Mikel Arteta won’t commit to a panic buy just because Bukayo Saka faces a spell on the sidelines, but the need to bolster his attacking contingent may have now become somewhat more urgent in the manager’s mind.
The potential timeline for Saka’s injury recovery has now been revealed, and the winger is likely to miss a number of crucial fixtures in the new year.
Even if the talismanic Hale End academy graduate weren’t set for a spell on the sidelines, there is still an argument that the Gunners need more quality in the wide areas.
Arsenal have been linked with Nico Williams in the past, and the Spain international would certainly help to address this issue at the Emirates Stadium.
The club Nico Williams wants to sign for
Williams has not had the most spectacular season for Athletic Bilbao so far this time around, as he has registered just 2 goals and 5 assists in 23 appearances, across all competitions.
Arteta will be well aware of how good the 22-year-old can be though, having seen him light up La Liga last season, before playing a key role in helping his national team to triumph at Euro 2024.
Williams may well prove tricky to sign this winter, but could still be a transfer target for the North London club come the summer.
However, when asked on X if Williams could be set to join Barcelona in the summer, journalist Toni Juanmarti delivered troubling news for Arsenal fans.
He stated: “It’s an option. Too early to tell yet. He would like to come!”
Do Arsenal need to sign a winger after Bukayo Saka injury?
Even if Saka does find himself out of action for a month or more, the Gunners can’t afford a knee-jerk reaction to this blow by making a rash move in the transfer market.
Arteta has the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard as experienced cover options to call upon. Sterling was also able to show encouraging signs recently that he may be returning to form, having struggled to make an impact for Arsenal so far this season since his arrival on loan from Chelsea.
On top of that, Gabriel Martinelli impressed in Saka’s position after he took up his berth on the right flank against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
What’s more, the resurgent Gabriel Jesus has played plenty of his football as a right winger in his career, and represents another option that the manager could call upon in that part of the pitch. As does Hale End wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri.
All in all, Arteta ought to have enough alternatives to cope with Saka’s absence, without having to resort to a January transfer fix.
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