It's no secret that Arsenal want to bring in players this January. Having opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League Mikel Arteta is keen to see his squad kick on in the transfer window. "We are really trying to improve the squad in every window," the Spaniard told football.london after Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Newcastle. "We’re trying to do our best because we cannot waste any windows still with the squad and the numbers that we have. We will try."
Arteta has also stated that he wants those additions made as soon as possible. “We knew the importance of getting players early in the summer and that is the same we want to do in January," he said ahead of the Boxing Day clash with West Ham. "This is idealistic. Sometimes it is not realistic. But obviously, if you ask my opinion, as quick as possible we want the players in to get settled."
However, as things stand that call has gone unanswered. Almost a week into the window and Arsenal are still waiting to complete their first deal. That wait now looks set to continue.
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The Gunners' next fixture is in the FA Cup on Monday where they travel to face League One side Oxford United. That tie offers the potential for Arteta to rest a few of his more senior players, and potentially get minutes into the legs of players like Emile Smith Rowe who have been struggling with injuries.
However, he will not be able to field any new signings for the match at the Kassam Stadium regardless of whether Edu is able to complete a deal before then. That is because the deadline to register players in time for this weekend's round of FA Cup fixtures passed at 12pm on Friday.
It does seem unlikely that Arsenal would have been able to get a deal over the line anyway as things stand. The Gunners have submitted two bids for Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhaylo Mudryk, but the Ukrainian side are playing hard ball as they seek to extract a fee in the region of £88million for the winger.
Chelsea have also entered the race for Mudryk which could make things complicated, although the player has made it clear that his preference is Arsenal. The Gunners are keen to avoid a bidding war for the 21-year-old and are exploring alternatives if Shakhtar are unwilling to agree to their valuation of the player. Joao Felix is reportedly among the list of other targets being looked at, although it is thought that Atletico Madrid will need to reduce the loan fee they are demanding in order to make that deal happen.
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