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Arsenal may be hamstrung for cash in the January market, but Unai Emery can solve his biggest problem in attack by landing James Rodriguez.

On the chalkboard

Without Mesut Ozil in the side, Arsenal are severely lacking someone capable of breaking the opposition backline and freeing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexander Lacazette, who instead are forced out onto the wings to supplement Alex Iwobi, who has become a makeshift number ten.

The German’s future in North London, however, is complicated, has no clear resolution and could even see him sold as Emery appears keen to stamp his mark on a side in a way that he could never at Paris Saint-Germain with the likes of Neymar.

Pl>ymaker FC believes Arsenal fans won't have to wait long to see Unai Emery's long-term ambitions for the club come to fruition. Watch the video below to find out why...

Bayern Munich’s Rodriguez and DL Yifang’s Yannick Carrasco have both been linked with a move to North London, with the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder out of favour in the Bundesliga and the Belgian winger seeking a return to Europe.

If the decision on who to sign comes down to the pair, Arsenal must opt for the Colombian.

Why not Carrasco?

While the 34-cap Belgian international would offer a stellar upgrade on those already at the Emirates, Carrasco would only solve Arsenal’s lack of true wingers rather than their horrific creativity problems.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder is also best suited to the left-flank, where Aubameyang or Iwobi usually play when not deployed centrally.

In an ideal world, both the Carrasco and Rodriguez would be signed, but with funds as tight as they are, the on-loan Madridista would offer a wider variety of talents, as he can play in behind the striker and rotate onto the wings to match Arsenal’s best style of attacking play when all positions intertwine.

Could it happen?

At present, the £58.5million-rated 66-cap international is out of favour under Niko Kovac in the Bundesliga, which has led to the suggestion that Arsenal could step in and pay the remaining segment of the loan deal – believed to be £3million for six-months.

Unfortunately, Bayern Munich’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has moved to rubbish claims that Rodriguez could leave the club in January, as they are still mulling over activating their option to buy, which comes into effect in the summer.

With Rodriguez potentially off the market, Arsenal may well then be forced into favouring Carrasco’s return to Europe by a lack of alternatives, but either way they will be improving the squad tenfold.

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