Arsenal's Transfer Window: Grading the Gunners' January Business

Over in north London, it's a new era at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is at the helm, the club are undergoing a change in philosophy, and reinforcements are most certainly needed. But with financial restrictions tying the Spaniard's hands, we know it's going to be a slow process for Pep Guardiola's former assistant manager.

Though he may not have splashed the cash, Arteta did sanction some incomings at the Emirates Stadium; also allowing a couple of young prospects to head out for some much-needed loan experience.

But is the Gunners' business up to scratch after last winter's disastrous Denis Suarez experiment? Here, 90min takes up the reins by doing the one thing you all want us to do - grading them!

Let's begin...

IN

Pablo Mari​

Signed From: Flamengo (Loan)

Grade: B-

Had you previously heard of Pablo Marí? No, me neither. It is perhaps a slight surprise when your club, in desperate need of defensive reinforcements, ​pick up a 26-year-old Spanish centre-back, previously owned by Manchester City, from Flamengo in the Brazilian league.

Then again, we are talking about ​Arsenal in the January transfer window. Anything goes. However, Gunners fans have no choice but to hope Mari turns out a successful signing. 

Their current crop of fully-fit centre-backs do not inspire a great degree of confidence. David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis, and a Rob Holding bereft of confidence, and match-fitness. Add Mari, who (it's not his fault), has not quite proven himself at the top level so far in his career.

No wonder Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal's Head of Football, has been dubbed 'Don Raul', the club's transfer 'guru'. After all, he sanctioned a worldie of a deal last January, securing the services of Denis Suarez on loan. Safe to say, £6m, and 95 minutes of action spread across six appearances later, it didn't quite work out. 

Cédric Soares

Signed From: Southampton (Loan)

Grade: C

Let's take a moment to imagine Arsenal's Executive Team's thought process. "Here's a good idea, let's sign a Southampton right-back they don't even want, on loan. Yeah, he's currently injured, and yeah, we could sign him for free in the summer, but why wait when you can pay him around £50k a week when's he's not even fit for selection!?"

​The signing of Cedric Soares comes as somewhat of a surprise, given it perhaps was not an area in which fans were expecting the club to 'strengthen' - Hector Bellerin has just started three consecutive games, and Maitland-Niles has shown to be a more than adequate back-up.

Yet, sign him they did. According to reports, the 28-year-old arrived at London Colney in his knee brace...which isn't ideal.

Let's hope Soares can take a leaf out of Kim Källström's playbook. By that, I mean recover from the injury we knowingly signed him with, score a penalty in an FA Cup semi-final, and then leave with his head held high. 

Eddie Nketiah

Signed From: Recalled From Loan Spell at Leeds

Grade: B

"Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!" were the chants echoing around the Vitality Stadium, as Nketiah scored on his first start since returning to the club in ​Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup win over Bournemouth.

It seemed dead-certain that the 20-year-old would head out on loan for the second half of the season. David Ornstein said so himself! However, it appeared Mikel Arteta had other ideas.

"Eddie, I'd like you to stick around mate. I think you can learn a lot from watching Aubameyang playing out of position, and our starting striker Lacazette, who is in the worst form of his Arsenal career!"

In all seriousness, this is a move that does make a degree of sense. Let's hope this is a decision that pays dividends to the club, but first and foremost, for the young man himself.

OUT

Dinos Mavropanos

Transferred To: FC Nuremberg (Loan)

Grade: B+

How, oh how, can Arsenal let one of their centre-back options go in January?! It's just nonsensical - is what we have been saying if Mavropanos had already started living up to the hype of 2017

As it is, a loan move to Nuremberg, who ply their trade in the second division of German football, will hopefully toughen up the young Greek international, who has suffered from numerous injuries, and fitness-related issues during his two years at the club. 

Signed by former Director of Football Sven Mislintat, who described him as an exciting young prospect, the 22-year-old has not yet proved he has what it to takes to play for Arsenal. Which is why, I suppose, he hasn't played much for Arsenal over the last year. 

Perhaps Dinos was unable to master the art of defending under the tutelage of his Greek compatriot, and fellow centre-back, Sokratis Papastathopoulos. 

Emile Smith Rowe

Transferred To: Huddersfield (Loan)

Grade: A

​The 19-year-old joined Championship outfit Huddersfield on loan earlier in the January window, and has hit the ground running, scoring and assisting in his opening three games. Perhaps Arsenal should have lent Huddersfield ​Mesut Ozil instead?

Smith Rowe looks as if he is benefitting from the character-building experience that comes with competing in the Championship. He tried to go down the Jadon Sancho-Bundesliga route with a loan move to Leipzig last January, but after managing just 26 minutes of competitive action, perhaps it was too much, too soon. 

The versatile winger has shown glimpses of his potential in red and white, but regular minutes is certainly what he needs to develop as a player. Credit to him, he's joined a Championship club languishing in 20th position, just three points above the relegation zone. Good luck to him.