Outlining an Ideal January Transfer Window Scenario for Arsenal

The transfer window is back open, and Arsenal need to act as quickly as possible to shore up the many weaknesses that have crippled them this season.

Numerous points have been dropped and many hearts broken by a combination of terrible luck, criminal mismanagement and a botched transfer policy last summer. But there is still time for the Gunners to recover, and adding the right people this month will be a massive boost.

Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and Mesut Ozil remain out, crippling the midfield. With the possible exception of Santi Cazorla, they are the club's best midfielders and have all been out for prolonged stretches this season, usually simultaneously.

The defense has been an even bigger disaster. Arsene Wenger surely knew going into the season that Laurent Koscielny was battling tendonitis in his ankles, an injury that only gets worse with stress. Yet, for some reason that no one will ever know, he didn't buy a center back, despite the fact that Arsenal had zero ready-made replacements.

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Unfortunately, Per Mertesacker has been horrendous this season, a shell of his stoic, no-nonsense former self. But everything should be taken in moderation, including criticism. Mertesacker has played virtually every minute of the season so far because he has somehow remained fit and there is no alternative.

So Arsenal's nominal foundation and pivot have been totally ravaged thus far. Mathieu Debuchy's absence added to the Gunners' woes, but the main issues have been in defensive midfield and at center back.

While there are clearly other soft spots—both tactical and intangible—in this clearly not-title-ready team, fans will surely be content with one January signing in each area.

Wenger's project this January is to finish the job he started in the summer.

He cannot sign a relatively young center back with no Premier League experience and allow him to develop over time. Arsenal need someone to at least tide them over until the summer, when the market opens up and it is easier to pry players away from other clubs.

It is unreasonable to expect someone under the age of, say, 23 to adapt to a new style of play, teammates and country during the middle of the season. They would be liable to make the same mistakes Arsenal's makeshift center backs have this season.

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Instead, the Gunners need to get a tough and mobile defender who can slot in for one or several games and not make a fuss if he has to sit on the bench when Mertesacker and Koscielny start.

Admittedly, it is exceptionally hard to find that sort of player on the open market in the middle of the campaign.

Benedikt Howedes is frequently mentioned as a target (such as by the Daily Mail) and would be the ideal signing, but I've always found the notion that the Schalke captain would leave the club in his prime to be utterly bizarre and without foundation—especially in the middle of the season.

There are currently no credible rumors out there, but Wenger has a habit of surprising people.

It is a bit easier to pontificate about who he might sign at defensive midfielder, though.

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Wenger has said (via ESPN FC) that he will sign a midfielder this month if the right opportunity presents itself. He could either opt for a box-to-box type in the mold of Yaya Toure or go for a physical metronome such as Morgan Schneiderlin.

The former are exceptionally difficult to find and usually cost a boatload of money due to their rarity (see: Pogba, Paul). Schneiderlin might not be available, but he hankered for a move over the summer and would be the best signing Arsenal could make.

The Frenchman is 25 and thus has his very best years ahead of him. He has seasons of Premier League experience, he cut his teeth in both League One and the Championship with Southampton and is physical enough to be a proper defensive midfielder.

While Wenger is on the phone with Southampton, he should also discuss Victor Wanyama, who is, in my opinion, massively underrated and combines sheer physical power with surprising passing nous.

While midfield should be below center back on Wenger's to-buy list, Arsenal's entire team would improve with a dynamic player being added to the heart of the side.

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