Who could Arsenal sign in January? Gunners linked with potential Saka replacements | OneFootball

For the third year running, the Gunners look set to be the biggest challengers for the title, only this time they are up against Liverpool.

They’re second in the Premier League table, now six points behind the Reds albeit having played a game more. But it feels like there is work to be done. And as the January transfer window approaches, the Gunners are being linked with a few new arrivals — particularly following the injury to Bukayo Saka.

So, who could they go for?

Benjamin Sesko

Arsenal need a striker. They go through stages of looking to be okay without one, but the Gunners do need a natural goalscorer to help them when things are tough.

The Gunners have been linked to a lot of strikers in recent times, and the latest is Benjamin Sesko. Following on from Erling Haaland at Red Bull Salzburg, Sesko was touted to be the next big thing. He joined RB Leipzig last summer and had a slow start to life in Germany.

But things are picking up for Sesko, who is still only 21. The Slovenian striker has played 15 games for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this season, starting all but one of their matches. During that time he’s scored six goals, at an average of 0.52 per 90 minutes.

Three of those six goals came in each of his final three matches before the Bundesliga’s winter break, after scoring three in his first 12 games. During that run, Sesko netted against Holstein Kiel, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich — even though the latter came in a 5-1 defeat.

Sesko has averaged 2.27 shots per 90 in the Bundesliga this season, hitting the target 1.22 times. His goals have come from an average Expected Goals tally of 0.31, but Sesko’s Expected Goals on Target is 0.4 per 90. So he improves his chances of scoring by where he places his shots — with a shot placement ratio of 1.31.

At a young age, Sesko is still a bit raw. But with a bit of fine tuning under the right manager, he could be in for a successful career.

Matheus Cunha

Another attacking name Arsenal are being linked to this winter is Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian has been thriving for Wolves in the Premier League this season and has the added benefit of being able to play in multiple positions.

This season, Cunha has predominantly played as an attacking midfielder, splitting his time between the left and centre. Forty-three per cent of his minutes have come in that slightly left attacking midfield role, with another 15% as a more orthodox left midfielder. He also has 10% of his minutes leading the line.

But Cunha isn’t just versatile. He’s good at it too. The Brazilian has been directly involved in 14 goals in the Premier League this season, with only four players directly involved in more. Cunha has scored 10 goals and provided four assists and is just five direct goal involvements off his total tally from last season.

He’s averaging 3.03 shots per 90 minutes and 1.96 chances created, very much a threat on both fronts. Cunha is in good form going into 2025 too. The Brazilian has scored in each of his past three Premier League games, and added an assist to his Olimpico goal in Wolves’ 2-0 win over Manchester United on Boxing Day.

Alphonso Davies

Further back, Arsenal could do with an actual left-back. Against Ipswich Town, Myles Lewis-Skelly was excellent, starting ahead of Riccardo Calafiori. But that cannot be a long-term solution. And Arsenal seem to have a curse upon them with it comes to their left-backs’ fitness.

Step in Alphonso Davies. Not to be injured, but to end the curse. The Canadian has frequently been linked with a move away from Bayern Munich, but this time it feels like it could actually happen. According to reports, Davies is open to a move to the Premier League, though it may need to wait until the summer.

But should Arsenal do their all to try to sign him now to beat the queue? Even if it means paying for player that — as it stands — would be available on a free transfer in six months?

Davies has played all just two games for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this season, being directly involved in three goals — scoring one and providing two assists. He’s created 21 chances at an average of 1.74 per 90 minutes, and completed 1.99 take-ons per 90. Defensively, Davies has averaged 1.66 tackles per 90 as well as 3.23 possessions won in the middle third and the defensive third. For the defensive third, that’s the seventh-best in the Bundesliga among players with at least 270 minutes played.

And, Davies is still only 24.

Samuel Chukwueze

Moving back to the attack, Arsenal have recently been linked with Samuel Chukwueze as a potential replacement for Saka. The problem with getting a replacement for Saka is that it will only be short-form. So you need someone who will be happy to get relegated to the bench eventually, biding his time.

Chukwueze has played 16 games in Serie A for AC Milan this season, and eight of those have been substitute appearances. He’s averaged 2.8 shots per 90 minutes and created 2.13 chances, with an xA per 90 of 0.23 — the 12th-best in Serie A.

Now, Chukwueze doesn’t match up to Saka at all in our winger metrics, though he is close on take-ons completed and tackles made. But that shouldn’t be used against Chukwueze for multiple reasons. First of all, he’s up against Saka, one of the best players in the Premier League. And secondly, Chukwueze is struggling to get a significant run in AC Milan’s team.

With more consistent time on the pitch, we could see Chukwueze performing more like his Villarreal self. And, it’s worth noting once more, that this would only be a temporary replacement for Saka.