The winter transfer window is always an awkward market to operate in, something that Arsenal were well aware of heading into the New Year.
There was some hope that Mikel Arteta would be handed a new forward option, with a striker or winger desperately needed to help bolster the squad.
Arsenal did make some moves, but unfortunately, it ended up being something of a damp squib of a transfer window.
Add to that some potential transfer exits that never quite amounted and it resulted in a quiet month for the Gunners.
Following the closure of the window, Arsenal Insider held a Q and A with transfer expert Graeme Bailey to get an assessment of the market as a whole.
Ollie Watkins to Arsenal transfer explained
- Ollie Watkins failed to make a move to Arsenal, despite a bid made in the transfer window
Arsenal made a bid for Ollie Watkins in the final week of the window, but it was a deal that didn’t go through.
On the move, Bailey revealed: “I believe it was fairly opportunistic, I am told Arsenal were given some sort of optimism about a bid. We know the player is someone who wants to play for them.
“The real issue was the Jhon Duran sale – had he not gone, I think there was a real chance of getting Watkins but Villa made it clear from the start that they would not be allowing both to leave in January, so in that regard yes you could say the offer was too late.”
Arsenal’s failure to land a striker in the January transfer window
- Arsenal were unable to land the striker or forward they needed in the transfer window
Plenty of talk surrounded a potential switch for a forward in the transfer window, given the lack of scoring options at Arsenal.
On the inability to land one in January, Bailey added: “Arsenal were never panicked in the January window, they are second top-scorers in the league – they are certainly not as clinical as they could be and we know they talked about a number of options.
“They asked about Benjamin Sesko and Watkins, they are continually keeping tabs on the likes of Alexander Isak and Dusan Vlahovic – but they were not going to take someone just a stop-gap in January, they know what they want.
“The way they play, I think they probably do have enough but that depends on what their target is – I don’t think they have it in them to win the Premier League but strangely enough I think they could win the Champions League.”
Ayden Heaven made Arsenal transfer exit
- Ayden Heaven left Arsenal to join rivals Manchester United
One big move that did occur over January saw Ayden Heaven leave Arsenal to join Manchester United in a huge move.
“This is a huge blow for Arsenal,” Bailey said on the move. “But Heaven had rejected Arsenal’s contract offers since he turned 17 – they knew that the player was not convinced that his future was at Arsenal.
“He was very close to the first-team and had he signed his new deal, I believe he would have been part of the first-team picture or at least very close to it.”
How Mikel Arteta may feel about the transfer window
Plenty of Arsenal fans felt infuriated that Mikel Arteta hasn’t been given more help at the club in the form of a transfer or two in the window.
“I am not saying he didn’t want another forward but I am told he was very realistic about what would and could happen in January,” Bailey said, allaying any fears over frustration from the Arsenal boss.
“They tried for a forward but it was not to be. He is happy with his squad, they are well-placed on all fronts.”
On Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League
The Premier League title is out of Arsenal’s hands, but they could still close in on league leaders Liverpool.
On the chances of winning the league, Bailey said: “I don’t see anyone stopping Liverpool, I really don’t if I am being honest but I really think that Arsenal have a great chance of winning the Champions League – I firmly believe they could end the campaign as European champions.”
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