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With the calendar flipping into January, Arsenal have a host of fixtures coming up in all competitions. Fans are on tenterhooks as they hope to see a new addition to the team. Mikel Arteta and his players, however, have thrown themselves into the battles on the pitch. Away from it, though, one of the biggest talking points surrounding the Gunners at present is the possible summer transfer of striker Alexander Isak.
Current Struggles of Arsenal and the Need for Reinforcements
Recent results have given Arsenal cause for concern: a defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and a draw with Brighton in the Premier League have tempered their season, with supporters growing increasingly anxious about the second half of the campaign. The lack of an effective center forward has been especially evident in these games, where the team struggled to capitalize on chances.
Despite this, Arteta has remained relatively cautious in the transfer market, focusing on maintaining the squad’s current structure. However, with the team's title ambitions hanging in the balance, there's growing speculation about the need for reinforcements, particularly in the forward areas.
Is Alexander Isak the Answer for Arsenal?
One name continually cropping up with regards to the Gunners and transfer speculation has been Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. The way he punished the missed Arsenal chances this season when beating them proved once more his instinctive striking feeling in front of goal. There will be question marks over whether the Gunners should have swooped for him earlier, although that performance highlighted his value to Newcastle as much as theirs.
Isak has been on Arsenal's radar for some time now, ever since joining Real Sociedad. Last summer, the transfer murmurs were rife once again, only to be cooled when Arteta decided against a major transfer in the forward department. That might not be so for much longer.
Reports say Arsenal is unlikely to make a move for Isak this January window but plan to rekindle their interest in the striker come summer 2025. By then, according to Mail Sport, Isak could be valued at more than £100 million, though given Arsenal's relatively frugal summer spending in 2024, that figure perhaps isn't quite as prohibitive as it first seems.
The Gunners have been trying to build a well-rounded squad, and it seems that Arteta's philosophy is based on maintaining consistency. But with the misfiring strike force, the Swedish striker might just hold the key to long-term success in the attacking ranks of Arsenal. A transfer to Arsenal for Isak may just be the clinching move in the quest to bring in the required firepower into their ranks to launch a sustained challenge in the Premier League and beyond.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
While the January transfer window is still open, the priority for Arsenal remains negotiating the fixture list in the best way possible and maintaining competitiveness in all competitions. This is where all eyes will be on how Arteta will juggle his squad, particularly in the forwards. Isak may be a target for the longer term, but any immediate reinforcements seem improbable unless there is a significant shift in the club's transfer policy.
As the season wears on, the Gunners will be looking for their current crop of players to answer the call for action. But with speculation rife that Isak could make the move this summer, it seems Arsenal is already planning the next step in their quest for silverware.
Stay tuned for further updates on Arsenal's transfer activity and how Mikel Arteta plans to build his team for the rest of the season.
