Arsenal are in need of more attack minded players, as manager Arsene Wenger looks to add more quality to his front-line this summer. After last season’s failure to once again win anything, the French manager would know that his side are in need of more alternatives to Olivier Giroud. Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck have failed to deliver as per expectations and it will only be smart to spend big this summer.
With that said and done, none of the Gunners’ targets have so far agreed a move to the Emirates, which might have kept Wenger in a dicey situation and he will want to confirm a signing or two.
A lot of players have been linked with a move to north London this summer and one more player now wanted by Arsenal is Barcelona’s attacking midfielder Arda Turan.
The 29 year old Turkey international moved to the Nou Camp back in July 2015 from former club Atletico Madrid, though he could not make his first appearance till January this year.
Even after his debut for the Catalan giants, the attacker was not able to impress Barca boss Luis Enrique and was a regular member of the playing eleven.
This must have surely created some unrest which gave rise to such speculations, though there were doubts recently whether a move would actually happen or not, with the player keen on a stay.
Depending on whether Wenger wants his man or not, the player’s future could be decided in the upcoming days, though Enrique might not be considering him part of his plans for Barca next term.
However, Turan could be a huge asset to the Premier League giants if the move does happen and here are three reasons why:
3. Experienced player up front:
Arsenal are not just in need of a good quality player, but need someone who has the experience of playing at the top level consistency. Wenger knows that he must sign a star who can not just score goals often, but also create for his team-mates around him in competitions like the top flight of English football, the Champions League and other cup competitions.
Turan barely made 18 appearances(with just nine starts) for Barca in the league last season, in which he scored a couple of goals with three assists to his name. His contribution was not the greatest, though if given the chance to play on a regular basis, the attacker could do much more, as he has previously shown during his time with Diego Simeone’s side.
2. Good passing play and dribbling skills:
During his time in Madrid and Barca last term, the player has showcased good passing and dribbling skills, which would be a huge asset for the Londoners who themselves use such a style of football. It would help Turan fit into Arsenal’s playing style and he would be able to adapt faster to the pace of football in the Premier League. The star would become a huge asset for the Gunners, if he does move to England this summer and play for them in the future under Wenger.
1. Can play in a versatile role in midfield and does his defensive duties as well:
One more advantage of having a player like Turan in the team would be the fact that he can play in various roles in midfield and keeps moving around on the pitch. The attacker can play on the left-wing or at the center of midfield, depending on the manager’s need in a match. This would mean that he would give Wenger more options if he is part of the squad, which would help the Frenchman rotate his players depending on his needs and the importance of the games to be played.
Arsenal Women host Manchester United on Saturday in a crucial six pointer for Champions League qualification. The Gunners sit just one point above United in the WSL table and victory at Emirates Stadium would give them a strong buffer, while defeat leaves them playing catch up in the race for Europe.
The match marks Arsenal’s return from the winter break following a busy week that saw Renee Slegers sign a new contract and Jodie Taylor promoted to Technical Director. However, the immediate focus is on securing three points against Marc Skinner’s side in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT, Saturday, January 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Cooney Cross Absent For Personal Reasons
Arsenal will be without Kyra Cooney Cross who has returned to Australia for personal reasons. Daphne van Domselaar is not quite ready to return from a quad injury while Chloe Kelly remains out with a knee problem. Jenna Nighswonger will not be in the matchday squad as she negotiates a loan move.
New signing Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby will be in the squad alongside recalled goalkeeper Naomi Williams. Manu Zinsberger and Katie Reid are out with ACL injuries. The absence of Cooney Cross means Mariona will likely drop into the deeper midfield role she has occupied for much of the last year.
United Strengthened in January
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer window, adding full back Hanna Lundkvist from San Diego Wave and centre forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. Skinner was dealt a poor hand over the summer with a very small squad handling Champions League qualifiers and the group phase.
Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Mead, Russo, Smith
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti; Park, Malard, Awujo; Schuller
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
Arsenal confirmed on January 9, 2026 that Jodie Taylor has been appointed as the club’s first ever Technical Director.
The 39-year-old former England striker moves up from her existing role as Technical Services Manager, a position she has held since September 2023 following her retirement from professional football.
Taylor’s promotion comes on the same day Arsenal announced Renee Slegers’ new contract extension through 2029, creating a strategic restructuring of the women’s football department.
A Decade Long Arsenal Connection
Taylor’s relationship with Arsenal spans ten years since first joining as a player in 2016. She scored 10 goals in 17 appearances during her initial spell before returning on a short-term deal in March 2023. Taylor earned 50 plus England caps during her international career and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2017.
She represented her country at the 2015 Women’s World Cup finishing third and played for multiple elite clubs including Lyon, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave throughout her career.
Strategic Structural Development
Taylor’s new role bridges critical areas of football operations including recruitment, analysis, coaching and performance support. She will work closely with Renee Slegers on a daily basis as the Technical Director, providing structural support for coaching decisions and squad development.
Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley praised Taylor’s appointment as integral to continued development of the program as Arsenal challenges for major trophies consistently. Wheatley will now focus on upward management across UEFA, FIFA and domestic boards while Taylor handles day to day operations.
Building a High Performance Environment
Taylor expressed immense pride stepping into her new position, emphasizing Arsenal’s remarkable growth over the past decade. She committed to nurturing a high-performance environment where players, coaching staff and support teams have the right tools to deliver at the highest level.
Her appointment represents investment in female leadership within Arsenal’s technical infrastructure, aligning with the club’s commitment to developing their women’s program systematically and strategically moving forward into their next phase.
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
Arsenal confirmed on January 9, 2026 that head coach Renee Slegers has signed a new long-term contract extending through the summer of 2029.
The 36-year-old Dutch coach was previously due to exit at the end of the 2025-26 season but now commits three and a half additional years to the club. Her extension rewards an extraordinary debut season where she guided Arsenal to historic UEFA Women’s Champions League victory after beating Barcelona 1-0 in the Lisbon final.
From Academy Player to Champions League Winner
Renee Slegers’ connection to Arsenal dates back decades. She played in the club’s academy as a teenager and watched Arsenal claim their previous Champions League trophy in 2007 from the stands. Her return to the club came in summer 2023 as assistant coach following two years leading Swedish club Rosengard where she won back-to-back Damallsvenskan titles.
She stepped into the interim role in October 2024 when Jonas Eidevall departed and impressed immediately with an 11-match unbeaten run. That performance earned her permanent appointment in January 2025, and by May 2025 she had delivered historic Champions League glory.
Arsenal’s Long-Term Vision
Slegers told club media that her journey from academy player to Champions League winning head coach represents immense pride. She stated the club has much to achieve together in the coming seasons. Arsenal Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley described Slegers as an elite coach with capabilities to lead continued title challenges.
Chief Executive Richard Garlick praised her impact driving standards and progress toward consistent top-level competition.
Jodie Taylor Joins as Technical Director
The announcement accompanied confirmation that former England international Jodie Taylor has been appointed Arsenal’s first ever women’s technical director. Taylor, who retired in 2023 after two Arsenal playing spells, will work closely with Slegers on recruitment, analysis and specialisation. Her role bridges previously disconnected recruitment and technical departments creating stronger operational cohesion.
Arsenal continues their title defence facing Manchester United on January 11 with five trophies remaining in play this season.
Also read: Arsenal star Kyra Cooney-Cross returns to Australia after mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis
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