How Arsenal would have looked with a dream January

Stuart Telford

• 2 Feb 2023 10:28 CST
• 3 min read

Arsenal signed Jorginho and Leandro Trossard in January, although Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk might have been the Gunners' first choices in their positions…

Arsenal fans can still count January 2023 as a successful transfer window. Midfielder Jorginho was acquired from London rivals Chelsea for just £12 million, while Trossard, a £27m arrival from Brighton, adds some welcome strength in depth in the final third.

Poland centre-back Jakub Kiwior has also arrived in a €25m deal from Spezia.

READ: Jorginho completes surprise Arsenal transfer from Chelsea

But Mudryk and Caicedo were two of Arsenal's first-choice targets. Mudryk joined Chelsea instead, while Brighton dug their heels in about their asking price for Caicedo. How would Arsenal have lined up if they had signed them?

Mudryk, a right-footed left winger, would almost certainly line up on the left of the attack in what has become Mikel Arteta's preferred 4-3-3 system, which would have been hard on Gabriel Martinelli after his seven goals and two assists in the first half of this season.

With Gabriel Jesus injured, Arteta perhaps could have accommodated them both with Martinelli leading the line, although Eddy Nketiah has impressed in the Brazilian's absence and perhaps it is a good thing he doesn't have this decision to make.

READ: Better than Jesus! Balogun is Ligue 1's top scorer

Arsenal if they'd signed Mudryk and Caicedo?

Further back, Thomas Partey and club captain Martin Odegaard are undroppable, and Granit Xhaka has looked liberated in a three-man midfield, chipping in with three goals and five assists for the Premier League leaders.

Caicedo's arrival would have likely put the most pressure on Xhaka though. Equallyb capable of acting as a pivot or a box-to-box midfielder, the Ecuadorian might have added extra verve alongside Partey rather than instead of him.

At the back, Arsenal haven't looked this settled since their Invincibles campaign from 2004, even if Kiwior provides some welcome cover. And Jorginho and Trossard instead of Caicedo and Mudryk could slot in just as well, if not better.