The winter window is not usually the busiest of windows, with prices often inflated as clubs try desperately not to lose their prize assets mid-season.
But for Arsenal it can act as an opportunity to bring in new players to add to their Champions League squad. Clubs are allowed to make three changes to the squads for the knockout stages, to allow for new signings to play.
January is also an opportunity for teams to strengthen their squad depth, particularly if they are struggling with injuries. that is certainly the case for the Gunners at the moment, who have question marks over the fitness of a number of key players after the international break.
Martin Odegaard has been missing for weeks, with Bukayo Saka limping off on England duty last week. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Ben White are also doubts, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is understood to have picked up another knock. Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko remain sidelined.
That could force Arsenal into the transfer market, but do they really need to make big-money moves? football.london takes a look at some of the young players coming through the academy who can save the club millions.
Ayden Heaven
Heaven signed for Arsenal from West Ham in 2019 and has continued his development since then. Still only 17, he joined the Gunners on their pre-season tour and drew praise from Arteta.
The centre-back, who stands at 6ft 3ins, was slightly overpowered by Rasmus Hojlund as Arsenal conceded against Manchester United, but he recovered well and put in an impressive performance in that game.
Heaven has been named in the matchday squad a number of times, including in the Champions League against Porto last season and the North London Derby with Tottenham this year.
Ethan Nwaneri
The big name on the list, of course. Nwaneri is Arsenal's youngest-ever player and the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League when he came on for his debut in 2022, aged 15 years and 181 days.
The now 17-year-old has gone on to be on the periphery of the first team since then. He has made three appearances this season, coming on in the North London Derby win over Tottenham and the victory over Leicester City, proving he can cut it in the first team, as well as scoring twice in Arsenal's 5-1 demolition of Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Many have called on Mikel Arteta to unleash him from the start in the Premier League and that prospect does not look far off now.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Another highly-regarded midfielder, he has already come to the fore thanks to what happened with Erling Haaland during Arsenal's draw with Manchester City in the Premier League.
Lewis-Skelly came on for the last few minutes of that clash and was seen being asked "Who are you?" by Haaland when the Arsenal youngster tried to diffuse a situation with Gabriel Magalhaes.
The teenager played 62 minutes of the Carabao Cup win over Bolton and has been in four Premier League squads this season.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Arsenal were in the market for a new forward in the summer, but they may not need one if this frontman continues his upward trajectory.
The 21-year-old has bagged five goals in five Premier League 2 games for the Gunners academy side this season and has also provided two assists.
Butler-Oyedeji has also been in both Champions League squads so far this season and was named on the bench for Arsenal's last Premier League outing against Southampton.
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