Arsenal: What the Gunners Should Do in the January Transfer Window

After a tumultuous summer window and an underwhelming start to the season, the Arsenal squad is set.

For now.

There is a long road ahead for the current squad, and January presents an intriguing time for Arsene Wenger and company.

It is likely that nothing at all will be done in during the January transfer window, and that is for the best.

No one knows how the Gunners will fare in all competitions by that time, especially with the FA Cup just beginning at that time.

With that in mind, the team's success, or lack of success, is not the driving factor when considering what they should do for the January transfer window.

Here are a couple things that should be done:

Gunners Should Keep All Available Players

No more loans, and no more transfers.

It would have been preferable if a more experienced player like Carlos Vela had been kept in the mix while a youngster like Ryo Miyaichi or Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain went out on loan, but Wenger has his reasons.

Of all the injury-ridden players, Abou Diaby is likely to see the least time at the moment, barring some miracle change in form and durability, but he can be offloaded at the end of the summer.

Right now, the more bodies the better. Yes, even Sebastien Squillaci. He is far enough down the pecking order that he should not be a significant threat.

Manuel Almunia is one exception to this scenario. If a suitor can be found, he should go. He is not going to play any more games in an Arsenal shirt.

Gunners Should Not Spend More Money

Considering that I was one of the many calling for some expenditure this summer, this is an interesting opinion.

Gunners fans should know it is highly unlikely that money will be spent, especially on a big transfer, during January.

But just because money is not spent does not mean that new players cannot come.

The Yossi Benayoun loan shows that decent, if not solid, players can be brought in for nothing or a very minute fee.

If Wenger wanted to go snatch some more experience at slim to no costs at all, there should be a couple spaces available in the 25-man squad.

Gunners Should Identify Summer Targets

It is not easy, considering the always-changing transfer climate, but it needs to be done.

This is not to say the Gunners never look at the summer from so early on, but there needs to be more direction so that this summer's debacle does not happen again.

All the new arrivals above the age of 20 have four-year contracts, so it is not likely that they will be out the door.

It is unlikely that nine more additions will be made this summer. The likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Almunia (if not already gone), Denilson and Diaby should be heading out the door and, at most, three quality additions will do.

Gunners Should Sort Out Contracts

Fortunately, a lot of the key players are contracted through to 2014, but there is still some work to do.

Thomas Vermaelen, Theo Walcott and, to a lesser extent, Emmanuel Frimpong are three important players that are contracted only to 2013. While this may seem a long way away, come January it is only one year.

As much as in-season negotiations may be a little distracting, if they are done quickly it can be good for both player and club.

Contract negotiations are tough regardless of when they are done, but leaving a player alone until there is one year between them and a Bosman is not at all a good scenario.

According to Mirror Football, the situation with Vermaelen may be resolved soon.

These players may not be like Samir Nasri when it comes to monetary demands or doubting the club, but a player's mind can change depending on what happens after a season, especially one as important as this for Arsenal.

Even more pressing are the situations involving Andrey Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, Vito Mannone and Lukasz Fabianski. These players' contracts are all due to expire at the end of the season.

Almunia is in the same position, but he is definitely headed out the door.

At the end of the day, Arsene Wenger and the board will make the decisions they see fit for the benefit of the club. They know better than anyone else what their plan is.

The January transfer window will be an interesting time when it comes. Until then, the Gunners should make sure they win a lot of games.