Why Arsenal should have made a winger their top winter priority

Sky Sports and Mirror had revealed that both Ivan Perisic and Yannick Carrasco were at the top of Arsenal’s shortlist as potential loan options in the January transfer window. However, nothing materialized with Arsenal falling well short of the valuation for both wingers. While Inter Milan wanted an obligation to buy in any deal for Ivan Perisic, Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang wanted a more permanent deal for Yannick Carrasco.

But the Gunners, who were only able to bring in loan signings, were unwilling or unable to meet either demand and eventually walked out of the room. However, it wasn’t all lost as they managed to get a deal done for Denis Suarez after the Spaniard signed an extension with the Catalan giants.

But while Denis Suarez is a brilliant addition to the Arsenal squad, they really needed a winger, as the club only has Alex Iwobi as their only fit wide player. Both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck are out injured, with the Armenian having only recently returned to a full training schedule.

It could become worse in the near future, and while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has done a fairly decent job playing off the right-hand side, Arsenal needed an out-and-out winger. Someone who can spread the play, contribute with their share of goals and assists, while falling back and doing their part defensively. Pace, power and creativity, a lethal combination that no defender ever wants to go up against, and yet once again Arsenal failed to add that to their attack.

While many claim that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a winger, the Gabon international has proved that theory wrong having out-scored every other player in the Premier League baring Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah. That if nothing else has shown that the former Borussia Dortmund star is clearly a striker, and not a winger if his movement is anything to go by.

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There is always the summer transfer window, but given that at the moment Arsenal is in the race for a top-four spot, things will get tougher going forward. But having someone with the kind of pace and power, either Ivan Perisic or Yannick Carrasco in the ranks, would have been crucial in upcoming key games against Manchester City, Tottenham and even Manchester United.