Dear Santa:Talking Transfers at Arsenal FC

With the festivities well and truly round the corner, I thought I'd discuss a rather emotive and long-standing issue in a more consensual manner. A survey if you like, asking Gooners far and wide a simple question:

"If we were to sign any two players after Christmas, realistically of course, which positions would you go for?"

The issue of January transfers is one that irks many, yours truly included. Not only does it represent a disruption to team affairs and trigger a cavalcade of rubbish being published (not this I hope I mutter drearily), but it is also marvellous opportunity for backtracking. A manager's second chance in other words. A chance at a cop out, turning things around before things really screw you over.

And in that sense I have never really been enthused at the prospect of speculation surrounding big-name signings in midseason.

But, the January transfers are very nearly upon us, and with many of us surely hoping for gifts from Santa, what better than a towering, prolific marksman, or a ball-winning, crunch-tackling, defensive midfielder for Arsenal Football Club?

This certainly seems to be the general consensus, with many believing that the massive hole in the midfield is a ticking time bomb, and virtually everyone convinced that there are no real strikers at the Club to cover for the crocked van Persie.

Now, Arsène Wenger likes to make of the transfer window a much more fun challenge, if you like. And so, in true Wengeristic spirit, I narrowed down the question to the much more realistic one signing.

Expectedly, an overwhelming majority recommended that we sign a striker, despite acknowledging the need for a defensive midfielder.

Not in Wenger's eyes, who, in an Arsenal TV exclusive webchat (quite enlightening actually) declared that cover for Alex Song's ventures into southern Africa will be "within the squad," most probably implying Abu Diaby. Now, this is all well and good, provided we somehow keep the recent relative solidity going, which I somehow think will be difficult.

Back to the proposed striker, the fans' overwhelming choice this January, and, having first set this conundrum a month ago, many of us were intent on poaching a player who would be able to contribute to the assault on Europe.

So, a Carlton Cole, or, even more strangely, Bobby Zamora, to name but a few of the names mentioned as people scratched their heads in dismay at the lack of personnel available that would tick all the boxes, including the issue of being able to appear in the Champions League knockout stages in February (with all due respect to Messrs Cole and Zamora of course).

An issue again dismissed by Wenger, who claimed that he might yet go for a player who had already represented his team in Europe this season. Now, if this is not a clear indication that true quality is a rare gem to find at this awkward time of a football season, then I do not know what is.

Indeed, if you spend some time with yourself mentally scouring the available talent, you will find it difficult to disagree with the boss on this one, especially when names such as Huntelaar, Chamakh, and Gignac show up in the ineligible "blacklist." With such names having been repeatedly linked to the Club, and with money tight as it is, you feel that we are potentially faced with a situation akin to that of Arshavin last year.

While most people were busy thinking up the ideal striker, there are concerns elsewhere, with the weaknesses in the goalkeeping position and the lack of depth in central defence brought up fleetingly. Although they are points to be agreed upon, one would not think that they are issues that would have to be solved here and now when faced with the option of a sole signing.

Which leaves defensive midfield, the view of the significant minority, a view that I have to say I share and agree with wholeheartedly. With my belief in Eduardo, the improvement of the soon to return Bendtner, and safe in the knowledge that we are the top scorers of the Premier League, solving the striker issue is not a pressing priority.

And, having seen how we crumbled spectacularly against Chelsea, a ball winner will be needed to do battle if we are to emerge with the ultimate goal of a major trophy by the end of the season, I feel.

An amalgamation of views which are definitely interesting and, with the team sitting (fairly) pretty in third with a game in hand, you just wonder where we would be had such gaps had been addressed beforehand. What we can all be sure of, is that Wenger is in the market despite his cautious overtures, and most probably for a striker, the majority view of Gooners it seems.

We can now only hope that whoever is next to adorn the glorious red and white of Arsenal is worthy of helping us grab the big prizes come late-spring.

And that would be the best possible gift from Santa. Oh, that and three points against Villa on Sunday too please!

Wishing you all (and Arsenal) a merry Christmas and glory-laden 2010.