Arsenal's January 2026 Transfer Plans: Managing Injury Issues And Squad Depth.

Arsenal enter the January 2026 window in a position of strength in the Premier League table, but a mix of nagging injuries and potential high‑profile exits means this will quietly be one of the most decisive months of Mikel Arteta’s project. Rather than a chaotic overhaul, Arsenal’s plan is to make one or two targeted moves, protect squad balance, and ensure the second half of the season is not derailed by a thin bench in key positions.

The Context: Title Push Meets Fitness Risk

Arsenal arrive in January 2026 as genuine title contenders again, backed by a deeper squad than in previous seasons but simultaneously tested by an unusually dense injury list. The club’s summer recruitment left them with stronger options in almost every line, yet the physical toll of competing on multiple fronts has brought Arteta back to the same old question: do they have enough fit, top‑level players to survive a long run‑in without another collapse.

Two realities define Arsenal’s thinking this winter:

• The core of the team remains elite and largely settled.
• The margins are so fine at the top that two or three badly timed injuries could erase months of work.

In other words, this is a window about shoring up vulnerable areas, not rewriting the squad.

Injury Picture: Where The Squad Is Thinnest

Arsenal’s injury load through November and December has been heavy enough that Arteta publicly described it as “a really dangerous circle,” even as the club insist overtraining is not to blame. The pattern is familiar: just as Arsenal build momentum, key players in critical positions drop out for weeks at a time.

Current absentees and return timelines

Different outlets track slightly different details, but a few consistent themes stand out:

• Defensive knocks and absences

• Centre‑back Gabriel has been out with an adductor/muscle issue since the November international break, with indications he would not return until late December or early January.
• Young defender Cristhian Mosquera suffered a “complicated” ankle injury and has been ruled out for weeks, with fears he could miss six to eight weeks across the New Year period.​
• Max Dowman, another highly rated youngster, has ankle‑ligament damage and is expected to be sidelined until around February 2026.

• Persistent soft‑tissue strains

• Several first‑teamers have battled recurring hamstring and groin issues over the past months, including Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, reflected in aggregated injury‑minutes data and tracking.
• This pattern matters more than any single absence because it shapes how aggressively Arsenal can rotate, especially in wide attacking areas.

• Club‑wide workload concerns

• Arsenal’s own staff, plus external analysts, have pointed to the sheer number of games and international demands as drivers of the situation, more than one specific training method.
• Arteta’s desire for “more availability” pushed recruitment toward players who can play multiple roles, but it has also made the drop‑off when two or three go missing more obvious.

This backdrop frames January: even if several players return early in the month, Arsenal know they are one or two fresh setbacks away from having to lean heavily on youth at centre‑back or full‑back again.

Squad Depth: Stronger Than Ever, But Still Vulnerable

The paradox of this Arsenal side is that it has both some of the best depth of the Arteta era and clear stress points that could become exposed if the wrong players miss time. Over the past few years the club has progressively raised the level of the “second line,” turning what used to be weak rotations into genuine competition for places.

Key structural upgrades for 2025‑26 include:

• A more complete midfield group

• The arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard added energy, defensive structure, and tactical intelligence alongside Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.
• This allows Arsenal to vary their midfield: double pivots, single‑pivot with advanced eights, and different pressing schemes, all while keeping a high technical level.

• Deeper attacking options

• The club brought in Viktor Gyökeres to finally provide a true penalty‑box forward with power, runs in behind, and enough link‑play to fit Arteta’s demands.
• On the flanks and between the lines, additions like Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke give Arsenal more ball‑carrying and one‑v‑one threat when Bukayo Saka or Martinelli are absent or off‑form.

• Improved defensive rotation

• Jurrien Timber’s return to fitness and the emergence of Myles Lewis‑Skelly as a hybrid full‑back/central option have added flexibility in the back line.
• When everyone is fit, Arteta can mix profiles: a more physical pairing with Gabriel and William Saliba, or a more technical, press‑resistant shape using Timber or an inverted full‑back.

Yet, as detailed squad‑usage analysis shows, Arsenal still sit in the middle of the league for total distinct players used, even if the quality of those used is high. That means more minutes concentrated into a core group, which becomes a risk when injuries cluster, as they did in late 2025.

Outgoings: The Big Names In The Shop Window

Perhaps the most intriguing element of Arsenal’s January 2026 plan is that the major story may be about who leaves rather than who arrives. Several senior attackers and defenders are being openly linked with moves, some for tactical reasons and others because the club sense peak market value.

Reports in November indicated that Arsenal were willing to listen to offers for:

• Gabriel Martinelli – Once an untouchable starter, he now faces intense competition from Eze, Madueke, and potentially another wide forward if January business materialises.
• Ben White – A cornerstone of the early Arteta rebuild, but the combination of Timber’s versatility and other emerging options has made his long‑term role less central.
• Gabriel Jesus – Still highly rated for his work‑rate and pressing, but the signing of Gyökeres and ongoing links to another centre‑forward have raised the possibility of a sale if the right bid arrives.
• Ethan Nwaneri (loan) – A loan move for first‑team experience is on the table, provided Arsenal are comfortable that they have enough cover in attacking midfield and wide areas.

Arsenal’s stance is not a fire sale; it is opportunistic and conditional. The club are open to restructuring the wage bill, trimming overlapping profiles, and creating space for one marquee addition if a genuinely elite player becomes available on their terms.

Targets: Where Arsenal Want To Add

Despite the noise around potential exits, most informed reporting points to a restrained January: one high‑impact attacker if the market allows, and possibly a long‑term midfield or forward prospect. Arsenal’s summer work means they are not scrambling to patch glaring holes, but there are clear directions of travel.

1. An elite wide/forward “needle‑mover”

Arsenal are not chasing volume here; the idea is a player who can genuinely change the ceiling of the attack, particularly from the left or right half‑space.

Names repeatedly linked include:

• Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

• A long‑standing target, Rodrygo was on Arsenal’s wishlist in the previous summer before the club pivoted to other options.
• His blend of pressing, dribbling, and intelligence between the lines fits Arteta’s model, and Real Madrid’s openness to a sale has kept the possibility alive, albeit at a huge cost.

• Rafael Leão (AC Milan)

• Universally admired for his athleticism and ability to beat defenders, Leão has also been mentioned, though there are questions about how easily he would adapt to Arteta’s out‑of‑possession demands.
• Any move for him would be financially extreme, requiring Arsenal to balance fees, wages, and potential sales carefully.

• Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

• Some speculation has linked Arsenal with Vinícius, but analysts suggest those expectations are “wildly optimistic” in the current financial and competitive landscape
• His name in the conversation is more a reflection of Arsenal’s ambition than a realistic January probability.

Realistically, Rodrygo is the most attainable of the true “super‑tier” wingers being discussed, but even that would likely require a major outgoing to balance numbers and cost.

2. A young midfielder to future‑proof the core

Even after adding Zubimendi and Nørgaard, Arsenal are looking to secure a younger development‑path midfielder who can grow into a starting role over the next few seasons.

• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille)

• The teenage French‑Moroccan midfielder has already passed 70 senior appearances for Lille, drawing attention across the Premier League.
• Arsenal are described as “at the front of the queue,” and while a January deal is difficult, it is not ruled out if the club decide to move early before rivals.

This is a classic “now or never” type of move: Arsenal do not need Bouaddi for immediate depth, but signing him in January could prevent a bidding war in the summer.

3. A forward to succeed (or complement) Gabriel Jesus

With Jesus linked with a possible January exit and Gyökeres already in the building, Arsenal’s recruitment team have also lined up options who can either replace Jesus or add a different profile at centre‑forward.​

• Samu Aghehowa (Porto)

• The Spanish forward has already hit double figures in goals this season and is reportedly on the radar of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham.
• Arsenal view him as a possible centre‑forward signing for 2026, with his January price potentially shaped by Porto’s financial position and competition from domestic rivals.

In practical terms, this is more likely to be a deal that Arsenal line up in January for completion either late in the window or in the summer, depending on how the Jesus situation develops.

Balancing Act: Competing Priorities In The Window

The most striking element of Arsenal’s January 2026 plan is how many moving parts have to align for significant business to happen. The club are trying to reconcile four competing priorities:

1. Protect the title challenge

• The first non‑negotiable is avoiding any move that undermines the current campaign.
• That makes selling multiple starters in one window highly unlikely unless replacements are already secured and integrated quickly.

2. Manage the wage bill and age curve

• Arsenal’s rebuild has accelerated to the point where some earlier cornerstone players now sit closer to the periphery.
• Offloading a few high‑earning rotational players can free space for one or two genuine difference‑makers, especially in attacking positions.

3. Mitigate injury risk through depth

• The injury tracker makes it clear that soft‑tissue issues and impact injuries across defence and attack will not simply disappear in the second half of the season.
• Arsenal’s answer is not just more bodies, but more trusted bodies: players Arteta is comfortable starting in high‑pressure league and Champions League matches.

4. Maintain dressing‑room harmony and tactical clarity

• One of Arteta’s biggest wins in recent years has been a clear hierarchy and tactical identity.
• Bringing in too many players mid‑season risks disrupting carefully calibrated roles and relationships, particularly in the front line where rotations are already fierce.

Thus, the likeliest outcome is a tight, focused window: one marquee attacking addition if the right opportunity appears, one prospect‑level move if terms are favourable, and selective exits that do not leave the squad short.

How Arsenal Can Use January To Stay In Control

For supporters looking beyond the rumours, the key question is not just who Arsenal sign, but what problem each signing is meant to solve. In this sense, the January 2026 window offers Arsenal a chance to deal with both short‑term fragility and long‑term planning.

Three strategic principles will likely guide their final decisions:

• Sign versatility, not just talent

• Given the injury landscape, Arteta will favour players who can cover multiple zones – a winger who can also play as an inside forward, a midfielder who can drop into a back three, or a striker who can drift wide.​
• This multiplicity is already visible in his use of Eze, Madueke, and Lewis‑Skelly, and any January arrival will be expected to plug into that flexible structure.

• Protect the spine at all costs

• The combination of David Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Zubimendi, and Ødegaard forms the backbone of the side; the club’s planning suggests no appetite to destabilise that axis mid‑season.
• Any deals involving players close to that core would likely be postponed until summer, when replacements can be fully integrated.

• Turn “good problems” into real advantages

• When everyone is fit, Arsenal now have selection headaches, particularly at attacking midfield and wide forward.
• The step Arteta must take after January is to convert that internal competition into tactical variety: different pressing shapes, different ball‑progression patterns, and the ability to switch between controlled possession and more direct, transition‑based attacks depending on the opponent.

If Arsenal execute this window as planned – minimal but meaningful additions, smart exits, and a clearer pathway for their best prospects – they will enter the final months of 2025‑26 with their strongest ever blend of quality and depth under Arteta. In a title race where injuries and bench strength often decide everything between February and May, that may prove more valuable than any single blockbuster signing.

~~~ By Dribble Diaries