Arsenal make no new signings but Mikel Arteta sanctions four January exits

02 February 2024 , 03:00

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Mikel Arteta saw four players leave the Gunners in the transfer window

It's been one of the quietest transfer windows in Arsenal's recent memory, with Mikel Arteta opting against signing a single player this month.

Just before the turn of the year, the Gunners lost two successive league games against West Ham and Fulham respectively and the clamour for an attacking addition was growing louder and louder. Though Arsenal have gone some way to halting that run of poor form, more wasteful finishing means the expectant Emirates faithful still wanted a new striker.

However, that is not a transfer that has materialised, much like Arteta expected it wouldn't. The Gunners boss, when asked about a new striker in early January, admitted: "At the moment it does not look realistic. What my job is, and what we have to do is improve our players and try to get better results with the players we have."

As a result, not a single new addition was brought to the red half of north London. Despite injuries to key players in midfield and defence, Arteta has decided to stick with what he has and hope that's enough to bring home a first league title since 2004.

With that being said, there has been some outgoings - though no first-team players have left the club. Instead, a number of young Gunners have been shipped out on loan, while goalkeeper Alex Runarsson has had his contract terminated and loan switch to Cardiff cut short so he can join FC Copenhagen.

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Lino Sousa, a highly-rated young full-back has parted ways on a permanent basis and joined Premier League rivals Arsenal. The 19-year-old only joined the club in 2022 from West Brom, but is already returning to the Midlands two years later.

Bradley Ibrahim has also left the Gunners for good, joining Bundesliga 2 outfit Hertha BSC. Like Sousa, Ibrahim had made matchday squads for the first-team, but never actually made an appearance at senior level.

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Lino Sousa has left Arsenal for Aston Villa on a permanent basis (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)

Fellow teenage Hale End star Charles Sagoe Jr has joined Swansea City on loan for the remainder of the campaign. He will link up with Charlie Patino, another Arsenal talent already on loan with the Swans, where he has impressed and managed three goals and four assists so far this term.

Mika Biereth was finding the net at a decent rate while on loan with Scottish side Motherwell with six goals in 14 appearances, but was recalled by the Gunners - sparking rumours that Arteta viewed that 20-year-old as the solution to his striker issues. However, he has been ousted on a second loan to Bundesliga side Sturm Graz, though that deal was completed long before deadline day.

Cedric Soares was the only first-team star expected to leave this window, with Turkish giants Galatasaray rumoured to be keen. However, they opted for other targets and as a result the right-back is now likely to see out the final few months of his contract before leaving as a free agent in the summer.

Josh O'Brien