Arsenal are running out of time to secure a January signing, but the Gunners have pulled off some impressive winter deals in the past.

Arsenal's search for a new striker is becoming increasingly urgent as the January transfer window deadline looms. The Gunners' 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City on Sunday has temporarily quelled discontent among fans, but the team could benefit from a fresh face up front before Monday's 11pm cut-off.

Despite manager Mikel Arteta's clear desire for a forward, Arsenal have been relatively inactive in the transfer market this month. Potential moves for Newcastle's Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko seem unlikely, and a bid for Ollie Watkins was rebuffed after falling significantly short of Aston Villa's £60million asking price.

Whether Arsenal will make a second offer remains to be seen, but they have surprised us before with several January acquisitions. And Express Sport considers their top five deals dating back to the Arsene Wenger era.

Nacho Monreal

Only true Arsenal fans will appreciate what a savvy and impressive signing Nacho Monreal was. The Spaniard joined on the final day of the January 2013 window with little fanfare due to his £8.5million fee and being a relatively unknown name at the time.

However, the left-back quickly became a fan favourite, making over 250 appearances during his six-and-a-half-year stint in north London. As if that wasn't enough of a credit, he also clinched three FA Cups during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Monreal was renowned for his reliability and passion, even netting six times during a fruitful 2017/18 season. He eventually returned to Spain with Real Sociedad in 2019 and retired aged 36 after a long-term knee injury curbed his career.

Leandro Trossard is head and shoulders above Mikel Arteta's other January signings

Leandro Trossard

Winger Leandro Trossard is arguably Arteta's most successful permanent January signing. Things looked grim in 2023 when Mykhaylo Mudryk - who had been eyeing a move to Arsenal for several months - unexpectedly signed for rivals Chelsea instead.

The Gunners then shifted their focus to signing Trossard from Brighton for £27m. The Belgian made an immediate impact, providing 10 assists and scoring once in the second half of that season.

He netted an impressive 17 goals in all competitions last term, including two in the Champions League knockout stages against Porto and Bayern Munich. Whether as a starting option or being called on from the bench, few are as guaranteed as him to cause opposition defences trouble.

Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott arrived at Arsenal amid major fanfare when he signed from Southampton as a speedy 16-year-old in 2006. He spent the next 12-and-a-half years at Arsenal, scoring 108 goals in a little fewer than 400 games and winning two FA Cups.

While injuries and inconsistency prevented him from reaching his potential, his dedicated service and a selection of memorable goals have secured his place in the club's history. Not bad for a £5m investment.

Martin Odegaard

Midfield maestro Martin Odegaard has flourished beautifully at Arsenal following some fears one of the biggest prodigies the game has ever seen would fall flat. Viewed as one of the most promising talents of his generation, a 22-year-old Odegaard was starved for opportunities at Real Madrid, but Arsenal's artillery came calling.

Arteta swooped in and secured Odegaard on loan in January 2021, at a juncture where his side was desperate for a creative force. Odegaard's initial spell may have been understated, yet it set the stage for an explosive impact once the future Gunners captain sealed a permanent £40m move to the Emirates.

His prowess earned praise from none other than rival manager Jurgen Klopp, who confessed, "I'm really happy that he has now become the player we all expected him to become. In fact, even better than that, if you will. Really a top player."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Reflecting on another coup, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's arrival at Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 for £60m remains a perfect example of the impact a January signing can have. Aubameyang was a beacon of positivity off the field and a clinical finisher on it, and he evoked memories of Thierry Henry’s era, netting 10 goals in 13 appearances during his first season with the club.

He then went on to share the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2018/19 campaign, and he was instrumental in leading the team to triumph in the 2020 FA Cup final, scoring twice against Chelsea. His departure in early 2022 was marred by disciplinary problems that strained his relationship with Arteta.

Despite tarnishing his legacy by moving to Chelsea, the Gabon star's influence during his four-year tenure at the club was undeniable.