Report: Arsenal have set their sights on move for Premier League forward

Arsenal January Transfer Window: Forward Search Back in Focus for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are already being pointed towards a familiar issue, the need to act decisively in the January transfer window. According to Football London , there is a growing sense that Mikel Arteta and the club cannot afford another winter market without meaningful first-team reinforcement, especially in attack.

The central point is hard to ignore. "In 2026, 2025 and 2024, the Gunners didn't make a single signing to their senior squads in the winter market." Context matters, of course. Arsenal have previously found themselves limited by finances, availability and timing, all of which can shape a January strategy before it properly begins.

That challenge has already been evident in their recent recruitment work. The report notes that Antoine Semenyo was among the players Arsenal admired, but " Man City were the only viable option to make a move earlier this year, while Arsenal and Liverpool would've had to wait until the summer." It is a useful reminder that admiration and execution are very different things in the market.

Arsenal also tried to strengthen further forward in the most recent summer window. "Arsenal wanted to add another forward and made moves for Morgan Rogers , Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez , all of which, however, proved fruitless for a variety of reasons." That line carries weight, particularly when set against the departures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli , with Christos Tzolis the only incoming addition in that area.

Attention has now shifted to the current alternatives. " Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres , therefore, have maintained their places in the squad as the second-choice left winger and centre-forward." Yet their outings against Ipswich Town brought scrutiny, with "Gyokeres in particular" under the spotlight. That naturally sharpens discussion around depth, reliability and whether Arsenal have enough proven support if injuries hit the regular starters.

The complication, as ever, is that January is rarely straightforward. "The market is notoriously difficult to do ideal business in," and suitable forwards are often scarce, expensive and expected to deliver immediately. Football London adds that " Eli Junior Kroupi and Kevin Schade are both names to monitor," which may prove significant if Arsenal revisit the market with urgency.

From an Arsenal supporter's perspective, this feels like a warning that should be heeded early rather than explained away later. We have seen too many windows where the need was obvious, the options were known, and the club still came out of January without the extra quality required to sustain a title push or survive setbacks.

If the club genuinely believed another forward was needed in the summer, and the report makes clear they did, then the logic has not suddenly disappeared. In fact, it may have become even stronger. Letting two experienced wide options go and replacing them with only one addition always carried risk. When backup attackers then struggle to convince, the conversation becomes unavoidable.

There is still time for Arsenal to shape this properly. The key is preparation. Supporters will accept that January is difficult, but they will not accept being unprepared for it. If top targets are unavailable, the recruitment team must already have realistic alternatives lined up, whether that means a Premier League-proven option, a younger profile with upside, or a short-term solution who can contribute straight away.

Above all, Arsenal cannot allow ambition to drift because the market is awkward. Clubs competing at the top solve problems before they become defining weaknesses. If there is a dream forward chase to reignite, then the groundwork must start now.