Arsenal Director Changes Stance On January Window Amid Danny Welbeck Setback

Raul Sanllehi admits the club may have to dip into the transfer window…

Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi admitted that his stance on the January window has changed following the long-term injury suffered by Danny Welbeck, The Evening Standard reports.

Sanllehi was adamant last month that the winter window wasn’t one he likes to indulge in, citing that it’s only used by clubs who failed to plan properly in the summer.

However, the Spaniard did admit that an emergency could mean a shift in the club’s position and that we may see action in the market.

Welbeck suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle against Sporting Lisbon, which needed two operations to cure and the club are yet to give a timeline on his rehabilitation.

It means that the 27-year-old could be out for the rest of the season and with Welbeck out of contract, adding a forward to the squad should be one of our priorities.

“That is absolutely something unplanned,” Sanllehi said.

“Yes, that makes you consider things. I am not saying that’s a green light to go to the market but we have good players in the house also that may get further opportunities, like Eddie Nketiah for example.

“If there is a very good opportunity, we are definitely going to consider [it], we will see. Danny Welbeck’s injury alters, in a way, the views.”

We’re desperately lacking in wide forwards with Unai Emery having to play Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the wing despite his preference to play through the middle.

Also, Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan tend to drift inside when they play and do not possess the pace to attack defences from out wide.

Hopefully, it’s an area we address in January.