Arsenal January transfer briefing: SAMI MOKBEL reveals the eight forwards on Mikel Arteta's radar in desperate push for an attacker, and why they can spend big this window
Share:
Arsenal finished 2024 as they started it - unbeatable and smashing in goals. They closed out the year with a run of eight wins and two draws in their final 10 matches in all competitions and racked up more points per game than any team in England's top four divisions, but two problems stand in their way of finally ending their title drought.
![[No team earned more points in the Premier League than Mikel Arteta's side in 2024]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/15/93619485-14239379-image-a-48_1735657330857.jpg)
The first is in the red half of Merseyside, with Liverpool nine points ahead of Arsenal at 18 games played each. The other is the state of Bukayo Saka's injured hamstring, which required surgery and is a body blow to a team who were just threatening to hit top gear after a stuttering first few months of the season.
![[Bukayo Saka underwent surgery last week on a hamstring tear that could keep him out until March]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/15/93619505-14239379-image-a-47_1735657295354.jpg)
Arsenal probably needed another forward with or without Saka in the second half of the campaign, but in the absence of their main attacking threat, and with a chance of silverware in four competitions still, they will almost certainly need to go against the grain of most teams in recent years and bring in a top-class player in January.
![[Out-of-favour PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani has been offered to the Gunners this January]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/15/93619617-14239379-image-a-50_1735657743033.jpg)
Here, as part of our series looking at Premier League clubs' January transfer plans, our Arsenal expert Sami Mokbel answers the five big questions. Arsenal ended 2024 on a run of eight wins and two draws from their final 10 matches. No team earned more points in the Premier League than Mikel Arteta's side in 2024.
![[The Kroenkes have a history of financially backing their head coaches across all of their sports teams. Pictured: Gunners owner Stan Kroenke]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/15/93619645-14239379-image-a-51_1735657829801.jpg)
Bukayo Saka underwent surgery last week on a hamstring tear that could keep him out until March. 1. What do Arsenal need?. Mikel Arteta is prioritising a new attacker in the January window. There has been much conjecture about whether Arsenal will look to keep their powder dry in January with a view to a heavy spree in the summer, but after Saka's surgery Mail Sport understands that the club are actively looking to sign a forward in the next month.
![[Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams is a long-term target and reportedly has a release clause of £50million]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/15/93619687-14239379-image-a-52_1735658011864.jpg)
