Boos rang out around the Emirates after Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, with many calling for the board to relieve manager Arsene Wenger of his duties.
However, 14 games later the Gunners top the Premier League, five points clear of nearest rivals Liverpool and Chelsea at time of writing, with the Frenchman being lauded for his managerial ability once again.
The form of Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey, coupled with the capture of Mesut Ozil, rejuvenated an Arsenal team that many felt had stagnated under Wenger. Now into the knockout stages of the Champions League, there is a very real possibility that the Gunners’ long wait for silverware will come to an end in 2014.
For that to happen, though, many believe the north London outfit must strengthen once the transfer window opens next month. While the options available to Wenger, particularly in midfield, are enough to make any manager salivate, it remains to be seen whether they boast the necessary strength in depth in attack and defence to compete with those around them in the second half of the season.
Ajax’s Davy Klaassen is one who has been linked with a potential switch to the Emirates. The 20-year-old has been in inspiring form for the Dutch outfit in both the Eredivisie and Champions League this term and his form has seen him likened to former Arsenal hero Dennis Bergkamp.
While the Gunners are overstocked in his position, the youngster has exhibited his qualities in the heart of the Ajax midfield after being promoted to the senior side earlier this season and his average WhoScored.com rating of 7.63 mirrors this.
Despite only making eight appearances this term, Klaassen already has six goals to his name and boasts a remarkable conversion rate of 33.3 per cent, the best of any Ajax player, while only Lukas Podolski (66.7 per cent) has been more prolific for the Gunners.
Understandably, the Amsterdammers would be loathe to losing such a prized asset with Frank de Boer’s side performing much better when Klaassen plays. They have won 75 per cent of the eight games he’s featured in, that figure dropping to 37.5 per cnet in the eight league matches without him.
Ajax also score more goals per game (2.88) and concede fewer (0.13) when he plays compared to when he doesn’t (1.75 and 1.75, respectively).
Real Madrid youth product Alvaro Morata is another to have been linked with a move to north London. When Karim Benzema was on a poor run of form at the beginning of the season, supporters were pining for the young Spaniard to take his place in the starting XI, but he has thus far been limited to only one league start and nine substitute appearances.
To his credit, the 21-year-old has netted twice this season despite a lack of playing time, although his 16 shots on goal despite his limited time on the pitch highlights how active an attacking player he is, which could prove an asset against a tiring defence.
The form of Giroud means Morata would unlikely displace him in the starting XI, but his chances of attaining more first-team minutes could improve with a switch to Arsenal.
Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to break up his preferred attacking triumvirate of Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale anytime soon, the trio having netted 32 of Los Blancos’ 44 league goals between them this term.
Moreover, Morata would offer a more consistent attacking threat to the current Arsenal squad than the erratic Nicklas Bendtner does.
Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann is another attack-minded star who has been linked with a potential switch to England following a blistering start to the season.
The Frenchman has scored nine goals this season, making him Sociedad’s leading goalscorer, while his average WhoScored.com rating of 7.49 is bettered only by Jose Angel (7.62) at the club.
Despite standing at just 5ft 9in tall, no player has netted more headed goals (four) than the 22-year-old in Spain’s top flight this term.
Though Wenger is able to call upon the likes of Podolski, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out wide, the acquisition of his compatriot could prove a real coup for the team and significantly improve their attacking options.
Sociedad, however, like Klaassen and Ajax, would understandably be keen to hold onto one of their first-team stars, especially with the Txuri-urdin aiming to return to the Champions League having crashed out of the competition at the group stage.
Despite Arsenal boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League, the club has been linked with a January move for highly-rated Saint-Etienne centre-back Kurt Zouma. Club scout Gilles Grimandi has reportedly been keeping tabs on the teenager as he continues to impress in Ligue 1.
Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have both started the campaign superbly, while Thomas Vermaelen is an adequate stand-in for the duo, but Zouma has the potential to become one of the finest centre-backs in Europe.
The youngster is averaging 3.3 aerial duels per game this season, more than any Arsenal defender, while also making 9.3 clearances per encounter.
Zouma's WhoScored.com strength of ‘passing’ would match Arsenal’s statistically, calculated style of play of ‘possession football’ and allow the Gunners to build attacks from the back, while utilising the creative exploits of the midfielders in front of him.
The north Londoners boast a strong squad as it is and a number of key acquisitions in January could see them continue the impressive form that has catapulted them to the Premier League's summit and ensure they’re still be top come May.
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