It’s Transfer Deadline Day, and the excitement is at its peak. Fans are glued to their screens, refreshing for updates every few seconds. Arsenal is in the mix, working the phones and exploring potential deals. But will they pull off a surprise signing before the window closes?
Arsenal has been linked with several players, but movement has been slow. A young Norwegian talent is on their radar, and there are whispers that the club is pushing to finalize a deal. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins wants a move, and his agent is working hard to make something happen. However, signing a new forward seems unlikely at this stage. If Arsenal does bring someone in, it will most likely be a loan deal from a foreign club rather than a big-money transfer.
Reports initially suggested that Villa was asking for £60m for Watkins. Arsenal considered that too high, but the actual rejected bid was reportedly under £45m. There was some hope that Arsenal could convince Villa to sell Watkins after they completed the sale of Jhon Durán. But Villa chose to sell Durán instead, securing a bigger fee for the 21-year-old, who has now moved to Saudi Arabia. His decision Q1to go there at such a young age raises questions about his priorities, especially since no other Premier League club showed interest in him.
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At this point, Watkins joining Arsenal seems unlikely. Villa is pushing for a top-four finish and a deep run in the Champions League. Selling their main striker now would be risky and could be seen as self-sabotage unless they are facing serious financial pressure.
Another name in the conversation is Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich. While he is a promising young forward, there are doubts about whether he would get enough game time at Arsenal. If he cannot break into Bayern’s starting XI, would he really get the minutes he needs in North London? At 19, Tel needs regular football. A loan move to Manchester United, Tottenham, or West Ham might make more sense for him. Arsenal needs someone who can make an immediate impact, and Tel may not be the right fit.
If Arsenal wants to make a major signing, they will likely need to sell some players first. There have been rumors about Kaoru Mitoma, but the £90m price tag is excessive. Instead, Arsenal could look to offload players like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, or Jakub Kiwior. Saudi clubs have money to spend, and Arsenal could take advantage of that while balancing their squad.
If no signings happen, should Arsenal fans be worried? Not necessarily. February is not a packed month for fixtures. The Gunners have only four games, including a huge clash against Manchester City. The remaining three are Premier League matches against teams that should be beatable.
More importantly, key players are returning from injury. Ethan Nwaneri is stepping up, and Arsenal’s attacking players will have time to rest and recover. West Ham and Leicester are not the toughest opponents, so the current squad should be able to handle the schedule.
March is also relatively light, with just two league games and two Champions League Round of 16 fixtures. By the end of that phase, Arsenal should have Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu back to full fitness. Meanwhile, Manchester City faces seven games in February. Arsenal’s lighter schedule could give them an edge in the title race.
The PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) has been under fire recently, and many Arsenal fans are frustrated with the standard of refereeing. Gary Neville recently weighed in, but his analysis felt more like entertainment than serious insight. At this point, arguing about PGMOL won’t change anything. The important thing is that Arsenal won their last match, and that’s what truly matters.
As the deadline approaches, Arsenal fans are left wondering if the club will pull off a surprise signing. While the chances of a new forward seem slim, anything can happen in the final hours of the window.
If no new signings come in, Arsenal still has a strong squad with players returning from injury. The next two months offer a manageable schedule, and the team is still well-positioned in the league and Europe. For now, let’s enjoy the ride and see what the final hours of deadline day bring. If you want more in-depth discussion, check out the latest Arsenal Opinion Podcast.
