So as another window has opened in the Footballing world and transfers are unusually top-heavy for a Winter with one player already brought in, in the shape of young Greek CB Konstantinos Mavropanos, I'm going to take a look at a few possibilities for Arsenal and rate their chances of happening. PLAYER NAME: Jonny Evans.
FACTFILE: Everybody knows Jonny Evans. Former stalwart of Manchester United and currently plying his trade with West Brom. Whilst Evans isn't deemed as being as great as he was at United, he is still an extremely capable veteran defender with tons of experience and in my humble opinion, still better than what we currently have in the Arsenal backline. WOULD HE BE A GOOD SIGNING? WHY? Would Jonny Evans be a good signing? In short, yes. Evans as mentioned above is extremely experienced in the art of defending and at 30 years old with over 13 years of that experience behind him, being coached by some of the grittiest defensive coaches in Football such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Tony Pulis, I can't see another veteran in the League I'd like to see infront of my Goalkeeper. VERDICT: Currently Evans is reportedly talking with both Manchester City and Arsenal, with United (allegedly) still lurking in the background. Arsenal are favourites to sign the defender and I believe we're definitely in with a shot at doing so. PERCENTAGE RATING: 65% PLAYER NAME: Malcom.
FACTFILE: At 20 years old, Malcom has been impressing beyond expectations at Bordeaux, contributing to 32 goals (18g, 14a) in 80 appearances across all competitions from the wing in the three seasons he has been in France. Prior to that he was playing for Corinthians in Brazil and commanding huge respect there too. His hold up play and pace are phenomenal and his long ball accuracy make him the perfect wideman to run the right flank where he primarily plays. His set-piece ability is also something to be applauded. VERDICT: I firmly believe that there are just a few screws to tighten on this one. The player is currently in France with his agent I believe awaiting his permit to play in England. Also Arsenal are in the final stages of convincing Bordeaux to allow Malcom to leave now rather than the summer, however reports in France in the morning suggest Bordeaux's President has claimed he isn't going anywhere I believe they're only trying to bluff Arsenal though. PERCENTAGE RATING: 98% PLAYER NAME: Thomas Lemar.
FACTFILE: Thomas Lemar has been a mainstay of the AS Monaco squad for the last 3 seasons now, contributing to 48 goals (22g, 26a) in 109 appearances across all competitions in that time, including playing a pivotal role in the 2016/17 season in which Monaco won the Ligue 1 title. He's great at set pieces and very quick on the ball, hold and link up play being second to none and he would slot in seamlessly on the left. WOULD HE BE A GOOD SIGNING? WHY?: Just like Malcom down the right, Lemar would be the perfect flank runner on the left hand side of the park. Quick, sneaky feet and the ability to pick out a snap-pass at a moments notice are just a few of the shining qualities in this man. Lemar is another with a flamboyancy in taking set pieces too. His pass success average this season alone is over 82% and along with his prolific crossing it makes him the perfect candidate to mirror Malcom. VERDICT: After almost signing Lemar in the summer for €100m, I don't believe Arsenal are willing to pay that much right now and unless it was of an amount similar I just can't see Monaco letting him go either. I believe this one will remain until the summer window. PERCENTAGE RATING: 70% (for summer) PLAYER NAME: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
FACTFILE: Aubameyang has jumped onto the Arsenal radar all within the last two weeks. Several reliable journalists in Germany, Spain, Italy and England have all hinted and reported that Aubameyang could be on the way to Arsenal. A veteran at Borussia Dortmund (where our new head scout, Sven Mislintat, has come from) of five years Aubameyang has improved in his contributions every season for the German side since 2013/14 totalling 177 (141g, 36a) in 212 appearances across all competitions (currently on 21g, 3a in 23 apps this season) he would be absolutely perfect alongside Lacazette or off the shoulder, Arsenal are screaming out for another striker of his calibre and it looks possible. WOULD HE BE A GOOD SIGNING? WHY?: If you have to ask yourself this question then you're probably not a fan of the game. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang falls in my opinion at least, into the category of extremely underrated but top class Strikers. As well as the aforementioned goal and assist tallies, Aubameyang loves to play his passes short and play off the ground, he's not rash with his tackles and loves to cut inside before thundering home a shot. Major strengths are finishing and headed efforts. He'd be the perfect target man to play with Lacazette's direct threat. VERDICT: Tough one to call as currently there are several reliable journalists who've insinuated this move will go ahead but as we all know, anything can happen in Football. PERCENTAGE RATING: 50% That's it for now, but I'm sure the club will approach more players and the radar will ping some more and if so I'll be there to give my impressions on those moves!