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Arsenal are not where they want to be at the midway stage of the season, however they look like a team that has the power to be.
At the start of term, many backed Arsene Wenger's side to challenge for the title but with half the games gone they find themselves in fifth place in the table and 13 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea. A top-four finish is what's now in their sights.
The Gunners are on a decent run, winning seven of their last nine games and looking like a team only likely to improve as key players return from injury and come up to fitness.
Despite that, there is clear room for improvement.
What they need: Requirements are pretty much the same as usual (which does not reflect well on the manager): a centre-half and someone in front of him for added protection to prevent a team like Stoke scoring three by half-time. But please, no more ball-playing midfielders.
Top targets: Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Christoph Kramer (Bayer Leverkusen).
On the way out? Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski.
Who Arsenal have been linked with...
Show all 17 1 /17Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Ilkay Gundogan The Germany international is out of contract in 18 months with Borussia Dortmund, and while he is thankful for their support during a long-term injury and subsequent recovery, he will not be signing an extension. That could see the Bundesliga club allow him to leave in order to cash in on his worth, and Arsenal are believed to be preparing a £16m offer to test the German club's resolve.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Ron Vlaar The Aston Villa captain is out of contract at the end of the season, but his impressive form at the start of this campaign helped Villa get off to a promising start. Paul Lambert remains hopeful of agreeing a new contract with Vlaar to avoid losing him on a free in the summer. The 29-year-old would bring a wealth of experience to the Gunners defence along with a certain calibre, having started all seven of the Netherlands’ World Cup matches in Brazil.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Loic Perrin Wenger is reportedly interested in Saint Etienne captain Loic Perrin. The French defender, 29, can also play in defensive midfield and at a price of around £6m would allow Wenger to chase other, bigger name defensive options.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Virgil van Dijk The Celtic defender has emerged as a leading candidate to join Arsenal in January with a £7m offer said to be lined up by the Gunners. Wenger’s admission that they could not add another player in the summer means that they are likely to sign a defender, and the belief is that Wenger attempted to sign Van Dijk on transfer deadline day only to fail in his last-minute pursuit.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Winston Reid The West Ham defender has been impressive this term and would offer a cheap, if uninspiring choice at centre-back. With his contract expiring in the summer, he could be available for around £4m in January. A possible swap deal with Carl Jenkinson has also been mooted.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Mats Hummels Borussia Dortmund’s talented centre-back is one of the most sought-after players in Europe with both Manchester United and Barcelona interested in his services. Arsenal emerged as a shock potential destination though, with the Gunners rumoured to be willing to pay up to £32m for Hummels, who has suggested that this could be his final season with Dortmund.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Morgan Schneiderlin The Frenchman accepted that he would not be leaving Southampton in the summer and flourished as a result, with Saints flying high in the Premier League. However, Schneiderlin will look to leave the south coast club come the end of the season with Tottenham likely to be the favoured destination to link up with his former manager Mauricio Pochettino, but Arsenal could look to hijack any deal and get one over their North London rivals. Schneiderlin would suit the Gunners playing style, and he certainly has the quality to fit in the current Arsenal first-team – just look at his record over the past two seasons compared to Mikel Arteta and you’d suggest there is only one winner.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Edinson Cavani Cavani has spoken of his desire to move to the Premier league and Arsenal have been identified as a potential destination. The Uruguayan would not come cheap, given that PSG signed him from Napoli for £53m. A January move would be difficult with PSG still in the Champions League.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Nabil Fekir French youngster Nabil Fekir has impressed with Lyon this term, scoring goals at a decent return. His father has said that if he leaves the French side, Arsenal would be his preferred destination, despite rumours of interest from Manchester City.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Julian Draxler Draxler was a name that was heavily linked during last season’s January transfer window, but any hope of a move appeared to be dashed when he suffered a drop in form that nearly cost him his World Cup place in the Germany squad. Despite that, Arsenal are reportedly still interested.
Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window William Carvalho Arsenal have held talks with Sporting Lisbon before but have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the holding midfielder. It's reported that Arsene Wenger has renewed hope of landing the 22-year-old Portugal international due to Sporting Lisbon's elimination from the Champions League at the group stage and is preparing a £25m bid.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Chris Smalling The England international was discussed by Arsenal when Thomas Vermaelen was linked with a move to Manchester United. Vermaelen went to Barcelona instead but Arsenal are thought to retain that interest in Smalling, despite some questionable performances this season.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Yohan Cabaye Arsenal failed with an audacious £10m bid for the Frenchman last year, and he eventually returned home to join PSG in a deal worth in excess of £20m after three years with Newcastle. However, Cabaye has found himself on the fringes of the first-team in Paris, with Marco Veratti, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta favoured in a three-man midfield. Arsenal are still believed to be interested in his services, and a return to the Premier League may not be that far-fetched.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Sami Khedira Linked with just about every major club in Europe in the summer, Khedira ended up staying at Real Madrid. He's made very few appearances this term and with his contract up in the summer, the Champions League holders may opt to make a few bucks by selling the World Cup winner. Arsenal would be very keen.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Christoph Kramer If Arsenal can't land Khedira, there is another German midfielder of interest. Christoph Kramer, who is on a long-term loan with Borussia Monchengladbach from Bayer Leverkusen has indicated his interest in moving to the Premier League. Arsenal have been linked with a £20m move.
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Paulo Dybala Arsenal have been linked with a move for Palermo striker Paulo Dybala. The 21-year-old has been banging in the goals in Serie A this term, leading to speculation he's in line for a big move. But the Palermo president has indicated he won't be allowed to leave for anything less that £31m
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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window Paul Pogba The French midfielder is believed to be attracting attention from the Emirates regarding a possible £40m move, and would fill the holding role that has hindered the Gunners for years.
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