Theo Walcott's Arsenal Form Reduces Need for January Transfer Swoop

In real terms, Arsenal did not sign a striker this summer. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger made goalkeeper Petr Cech his only major summer signing, meaning he entered the season without adding a single outfield player. For those who believed Arsenal’s attack required strengthening, that was a bewildering decision.

However, Wenger would probably contest that he did sign up a new forward after all. Midway through the summer, he agreed terms on a new contract with Theo Walcott, whose deal was 12 months from expiry. The deal included a pay rise, but it was more than his salary that changed: Walcott’s position changed, too. From then on, he was to be regarded almost exclusively as a centre-forward.

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Wenger must have reasoned that retaining and converting Walcott was a better option that bringing in an unknown quantity. Thus far, that decision looks to have been an astute one. Had a new signing made the impact Walcott has in his new role, their addition would be hailed as a masterstroke.

Walcott has the advantage of being settled in his surroundings. Incredibly, January will mark 10 years since he arrived at the club as a teenager from Southampton. It’s fascinating it’s taken him the best part of a decade to get a prolonged spell playing in his preferred position.

Walcott looks ready to play as a striker now. He’s always had the speed, which thankfully seems to have survived his knee surgery intact. His finishing has improved with age, helped by a seemingly impenetrable confidence in his own abilities as a goalscorer.

However, he is now adding surprising elements to his game. In the recent victories over Leicester City and Manchester United, Walcott demonstrated an hitherto unseen capacity to hold the ball up and bring others in to play. Spending almost a year out with injury seems to have focused Walcott’s mind: He knows he wants to be a striker and seems determined to do everything possible to make that spot his own.

That means Arsenal are unlikely to need any attacking recruits in the upcoming January transfer window. There are already stories circulating about potential Gunners targets, with John Cross of the Mirror suggesting they may be plotting a move for Celta Vigo attacker Nolito:

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Spain international Nolito—whose full name is Manuel Agudo Duran—has got a buy-out clause in his contract which expires in 2017.

Gunners boss Wenger is looking to strengthen his strike force after being left frustrated in the transfer market last summer.

Wenger has now detailed scouts to watch 28-year-old Nolito and they are well aware of his contract situation and Celta Vigo may be ready to sell with his deal running down.

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It would be a significant surprise if Wenger moved for the Spaniard midway through the season.

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At present, Wenger is able to choose between Walcott and Olivier Giroud as the focal point of his attack. By January, he will expect to add a returning Danny Welbeck into the mix. The former Manchester United man’s combination of speed and power offers a nice balance to Wenger’s other attacking options.

If Walcott continues to improve at this rate, Wenger’s need for attacking reinforcements will be assuaged. If he is to bring in a new striker, it will be a marquee player who is an obvious upgrade on the current contingent. That sort of signing is only likely to happen in the summer.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.