Mikel Arteta's first five Arsenal signings give us an idea as to his January transfer plans

Mikel Arteta's first signings as Arsenal manager gives fans a hint as to who he might target during the January transfer window

Arsenal sit top of the Premier League table and will look to boost their chances of silverware with some successful signings in the January transfer window.

Mikel Arteta has been at the club since 2019 and has been striving for the league title since. The Gunners have finished second for three consecutive seasons under the Spaniard but lead the pack this campaign.

Arteta will be hoping that his January additions will help the north London outfit to their first Premier League title since 2004. But how can we determine who the manager will target in the transfer window, and will he draw inspiration from past deals?

Here, Football London looks at Arteta's first five signings as Arsenal manager and how this can potentially predict what the Spaniard will do this month.

Pablo Mari

Pablo Mari was the first signing of the Arteta era at Arsenal, joining on a loan deal in January 2020 until the end of the season. Despite his limited appearances for the club - even after his deal was made permanent that summer - his versatility showcased exactly what the boss wants at the club.

Mari joined as a left-footed centre-half and was seen as the player to "balance" the defence under Arteta. At the time of his signing, the Arsenal boss said: "For me, he is very important, he balances what I want to do from the back line.

"It gives us more options, more solutions and opens up the pitch more, and he is a player we have been following in the last few months, and we are really happy to have." After making just 22 appearances in an Arsenal shirt, Mari departed for Serie A club Monza following a successful loan deal in 2023.

Cedric

Next up was full-back Cedric, who also joined Arsenal on loan in January 2020. The defender was seen as the club's solution to their frail right-back option and could also play left-back and right midfield.

At the time, injuries to Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers meant that defensive midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles was filling in at right-back for the club, and Arteta wanted a player more suited to the position.

Discussing Cedric, he said: "He’s a player who’s got a big experience. He’s played in different countries, he’s played in this league, he knows what it means.

"He’s very willing to go to another top club and he’s got that desire, that commitment. I followed him a few seasons ago, I started to follow him and I really like what he can bring. They were the right conditions for us as well to try to improve the squad."

The defender made 64 appearances for the club and was heavily relied upon during the 2021/22 season. While Cedric played the majority of his Arsenal career at right-back, he also made 10 appearances at left-back and six appearances in midfield, highlighting the versatile nature Arteta sought in his players.

Alex Runarsson

While Alex Runarsson's career with Arsenal isn't exactly noteworthy, it does speak to a point Arteta would make about competition for positions. The goalkeeper made just six appearances for the Gunners and wasn't exactly a popular face among fans.

These appearances for Arsenal included just one 15-minute cameo in the Premier League in a 2-1 loss to Wolves after starting keeper Bernd Leno was sent off.

Runarsson's career in north London might not have been a great success, but Arteta's need for competition among players is a huge hint that he favours strength in depth and wants his squad to fight for their place in the starting XI.

Willian

Willian made a move from one side of London to the other in the summer of 2020 when he joined Arsenal from Chelsea on a free transfer. A proven winner in the Premier League and a flexible player across the entire forward line, he seemed to be the perfect addition to Arteta's side.

However, after 37 appearances and one goal alongside seven assists, the Brazilian didn't exactly live up to expectations at the Emirates Stadium. However, Arteta waxed lyrical about the attacker's arrival at Arsenal at the time, as he highlighted just what he was looking for from Willian.

Arteta said: "I believe he’s a player that can really make a difference for us. We have been monitoring him for the past few months, we had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions.

"He is a player that gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in three or four different positions. He has the experience of everything in the football world, but to still have the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs."

Gabriel Magalhaes

Gabriel's arrival in 2020 marked the turning point in Arsenal's defensive fortunes. The centre-half is the biggest success story among all these players, as he remains one of the first names on the team sheet under Arteta.

Since signing for the Gunners, the defender has made 230 appearances across all competitions and has scored 24 goals, including four this season in the club's charge for the Premier League title.

Gabriel is heavily relied upon in shoring up one of the most capable defences in the league in recent times and is the pinnacle of what Arteta wants in his back line - strong, reliable and even with a knack for finding the net from set pieces.

Fans can take heed of these signings in predicting that Arteta will want versatility and reliability from his January transfer signings, as well as an ability to create competition for positions across the team.