Emery is fast running out of time

With the end of January just around the corner, if reports are true that Unai Emery wants to sign two new players before the January transfer window closes, he is going to have to get his skates on.

The Arsenal manager is said to have in interest in Denis Suarez, the 25-year-old Spanish born midfielder who currently plays for Barcelona, and Ivan Perisic, the 29-year-old Croatian attacking midfielder who can also play as a second striker, and who is presently on Inter Milan’s books.

According to Sky Sport, Perisic is said to have handed in a transfer request on the back of potential interest from the North London Club. However, when asked specifically about either of these players Emery refuses to be drawn.

The fact of the matter is that recently Arsenal made a £3.5-million load deal bid for the winger with an option to buy him at the end of the season. As far as Inter Milan are concerned though, they are only interested in a permanent transfer deal, and they are said to be looking for a settlement of around £67.1-million.

Emery is also said to be contemplating making a bid for Christopher Nkunku, the 21-year-old Congolese born midfielder who is currently playing for Paris Saint Germain. The target at the moment according to the Spaniard is to strengthen the Gunner’s squad in midfield or attack. This is his aim despite the fact that Arsenal have two defenders out due to recent injuries in the cup game with Manchester United.

They are Laurent Koscielny, who injured his jaw (luckily it is not fractured), and Sokratis Papastathopoulos (more popularly known simply as Sokratis) who fell awkwardly, injuring his ankle.

Of the two, Sokratis’s injury is slightly worse although he is expected to be fully fit again in two to three weeks. As for Koscielny, he has a bad bruise but will probably only miss out of the next game against Cardiff.

All the while that Sokratis is injured and unavailable for first-team selection, the best replacement could be Konstantinos “Dinos” Mavropanos. The 21-year-old Greek defender is the closest thing that the Gunners have to Sokratis in terms of his mental approach to the game.

While it is true that the young Greek has not been given a game this year, most supporters think he would be a better option rather than turning to an oldie.

If given a chance the youngster would go hell for leather to establish himself and that has to be preferential. It would go a considerable way towards easing the fears that Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer voiced about the weaknesses of Arsenal’s current defensive squad.

At least Emery has depth of choice, but it is this that makes him concerned that if he was to buy in more defenders; when everyone is fit, he will have selection problems and unhappy players who don’t get picked to play.