Although Arsenal look to be picking up form despite their defensive problems, Arsene Wenger will still need to reinforce his squad with a few additional players to move up the table in the Premier League.
The Gunners will be looking to add to their very limited back line, especially in the centre-back role, with their shortage in this department well documented every since the injury to Laurent Koscielny.
With the January window coming up, here are FIVE Bundesliga stars the club should definitely look to signing during the January window:
Julian Draxler
Name: Julian Draxler
Age: 21
Position: Left Winger
Nationality: Germany
Club: Schalke 04
Price: £30 - £35 million
Julian Draxler has long been on Arsenal's shopping list, and with the January window coming up, Arsene Wenger may finally decide to sign him before a number of interested parties snap him up first. At 21, it would appear to be the perfect time for him to make a move in search for a new challenge.
The German winger has made eight Bundesliga appearances so far this season, scoring two goals and providing a single assist. He could easily fit into the swift playing style of the club and would surely provide some friendly competition for places on the left flank.
Mats Hummels
Name: Mats Hummels
Age: 25
Position: Centre Back
Nationality: Germany
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Price: £25 - £30 million
Mats Hummels seems to have made his way into the shopping list of almost every big Premier League team with Arsenal amongst them. His exploits at the World Cup for Germany seems to have added even more fuel into the fire with a host of clubs preparing an offer to sign him.
Along with the Gunners, Manchester United have declared their desire to sign the Borussia Dortmund centre-back on more than one occasion. With Jurgen Klopp's side not doing too well this season, Hummels may be keen in switching to a side that can offer him something more.
Christoph Kramer
Name: Christoph Kramer
Age: 23
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Germany
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach)
Price: £10 - £15 million
Currently on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, Christoph Kramer is the sort of defensive midfielder Arsene Wenger will be looking for to slot right in front of his back line. He has been lining up a player who can fill this role for quite a while, and after Kramer's victory in Brazil with Germany, the Gunners may consider making a move this January.
He has made 13 appearances so far this season, scoring once, and is currently a key figure in the midfield for his club which now sit fourth in the Bundesliga.
Benedikt Howedes
Name: Benedikt Howedes
Age: 26
Position: Centre-back
Nationality: Germany
Club: Schalke 04
Price: £15 million
With Arsenal suffering a host of defensive injuries ever since the start of the new campaign, Arsene Wenger is struggling to cope with the lack of experienced centre-backs available for selection. He currently has Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as his two central defenders, often calling on Calum Chambers or even Nacho Monreal to fill the hole in that role.
Koscielny's struggles with fitness this season would make the signing Benedikt Howedes seem like a very shrewd move. Currently the skipper for Schalke 04, Wenger may need to do a lot of convincing in order to see one of his transfer targets accept a move. He has now made 11 Bundesliga appearances this season, even managing to grab a goal in the process.
Lars Bender
Name: Lars Bender
Age: 25
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Germany
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Price: £18 - £23 million
Another possible defensive midfield target for Arsene Wenger is Lars Bender, a player who is more than capable of commanding the area between midfield and defence. He is a strong figure in the centre of the park for Bayer Leverkusen and the Gunners have already had a summer bid rejected.
Bender has featured in 12 Bundesliga matches so far and has helped his team maintain their third place slot in the league, six points behind second place Wolfsburg and nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.