Evaluating Arsenal's options in the January transfer window

Arsene Wenger

Ever since Arsene Wenger pulled Mesut Ozil out of his magician’s hat on transfer deadline day, the Premier League world has been a very different place.

Le Professeur was once again hailed as a top-class manager, as opposed to the image of the-old-man-losing-his-marbles that had prevailed until that point.

Arsenal’s statement of intent has been pivotal in restoring a sense of belief in the players themselves – but the effect it has had on the league itself has been interesting.

The double whammy of Arsenal’s derby day win over Tottenham, together with the news that Ozil was actually coming to the Emirates, convinced Jose Mourinho to halt Demba Ba’s proposed loan move to Arsenal, acknowledging that he now considered the Gunners to be title contenders.

Be that as it may, Wenger’s move for Demba Ba hinted at a desperation, more than anything else. The most glaring flaw in Wenger’s plan is there for all to see, and the fact that he failed to address it sufficiently has made it inevitable that a host of names would be linked with Arsenal.

However, Mesut Ozil’s signing has made it look like Wenger is suddenly a man who is ready to loosen the purse strings at the first sign of temptation.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Wenger himself has come out and cautioned supporters to not expect a big-name signing every time the transfer window comes calling.

Simply put, Mesut Ozil was simply too good a player to miss out on – even if the Arsenal midfield was not his most pressing concern at the time.

It could even be argued that the free transfer of Mathieu Flamini has had a larger impact on the pitch – and that is perhaps the biggest endorsement of Wenger’s attitude to the money that is being thrown around today.

But Arsenal would not mind splashing the cash in the January transfer window – if only because they stand in a very precarious position today.

The arrival of a worthy striker would certainly have them counted as one of the favorites for the League title. Not just that, it could potentially see them advance further on the European stage as well.

They have made a habit of exiting at the knockout stages for a while now, but with memorable performances against Bayern Munich and AC Milan in recent times, a little push could very well take this Arsenal team much further.

In any case, this team will revel in its role as a dark horse in the Champions league – it is that fearlessness that has seen them put in performances like the one we saw against Bayern Munich.

The point to be taken is that the lure of all the glory may well be too tempting to deny Arsenal supporters the chance to welcome another name to life in Ashburton Grove.

And so, let us evaluate the names that have been linked with the Gunners in the last few months.

Edinson Cavani

Are you kidding me?

Anyone who thinks Wenger will splash the cash for Cavani is deluding themselves.

In an ideal world, the Uruguayan would be the perfect addition to the Arsenal line-up.

Quick, strong and very intelligent, Cavani is actually an upgrade on the in-form Giroud.

But Wenger is on the lookout for a man who can compete with the Frenchman, not one who will supplant him in the line-up right away.

Morever, Cavani will be cup-tied for the remainder of the season.

The biggest factor would of course be the price tag, with PSG very unlikely to sell a prized asset merely months after luring him to Paris.

A move for the Uruguayan in the summer would be a slight possibility, but Arsenal need a striker in the Christmas window, and as such, this rules out any chance of Cavani arriving.

Marco Reus

Yeah, that makes sense.

Reus does his best work with a recognized number 9 in front of him, and Arsenal already have a number of options in those positions.

There would be no point in forking out a large transfer fee and play him in a less effective position – not everyone has the money to do what PSG has done with Cavani.

Plus, Wenger’s pursuit of Ba - and more memorably, Gonzalo Higuain – has shown that he prefers to have a proper number 9 in there, one who can complement the play of his slick pass masters.

Most importantly, the chances of Reus swapping Dortmund for Arsenal look to be very remote – Dortmund are arguably a better team than Arsenal are today.

This one strikes out on all fronts, so despite the delicious headlines it would certainly generate, it is certainly not going to happen.

And, if you wanted another reason, he is cup-tied too.

Karim Benzema

This one has been swirling around in transfer rumor circles for ages now, with the Frenchman repeatedly rebuffing Arsenal’s advances.

However, the way Mesut Ozil has taken to life in London reportedly has Benzema interested.

The most obvious reason, however, remains that Real Madrid feel that Benzema has over-stayed his time in Madrid.

The only reason he still plays for them is because of their inability to lure Luis Suarez in the summer.

Why?

Oh, just that they were perhaps a little too busy trying to break the record transfer fee they paid for Cristiano Ronaldo a few years back.

And even if they couldn’t quite manage it, everyone in Madrid looks to be pretty happy.

Especially Ronaldo.

That Suarez will play for Real Madrid next season is a foregone conclusion.

Even if Brendan Rodgers resorts to tackling him to the ground and refusing to let go, Suarez will probably just bite his ear off and proceed to pose for the cameras, grinning sheepishly as the blood seeps down to his new all-white jersey.

Anyway, all the permutations that go with that move will have to be calculated only in the summer transfer window, and as such, Benzema can look forward to another 6 months in the Spanish capital.

Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke

I actually thought this one was a dead-on certainty in the wake of Arsenal losing out on Gonzalo Higuain in the summer, and was gob-smacked when he extended his contract with Aston Villa.

However, he remains Arsenal’s most promising prospect in the January transfer window.

And even if they may well have to fork out a figure in the region of £30 million, it will be money well spent.

The Belgian is the perfect competition for Giroud, with both players bringing very similar qualities to the table.

Giroud’s touch and vision maybe give him the edge over Benteke, but the Belgian’s raw pace is an attribute that cannot be undervalued.

Jack Wilshere has stated publicly that Arsenal’s ultimately failed pursuit of Suarez was a major factor in Giroud pushing himself to attain the level he is at today – and the arrival of another worthy competitor is likely to spur both players on.

Moreover, Benteke is a huge admirer of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, and has made no secret of his desire to emulate his hero by one day moving to Arsenal.

And with the legend currently training with the Gunners in the MLS off-season, Benteke will only be wondering how he did not make the move in the summer.

The fact that he is not cup-tied is a major bonus, and even if it is likely to enhance his transfer fee, this is a chance Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on.

The glory is theirs to take; all it requires is the courage to grab the chance – especially when it presents itself so tantalizingly.