Should Arsenal Buy Players in January?

COMMENTARY | Although Arsenal F.C. are cruising at the moment, many pundits are suggesting that the Barclays Premier League leaders (and have been for 11 consecutive weeks) are still in need of another quality player or two. With the January transfer market opening in just a few weeks, the Gunners brass will have to answer one question: Do we need to open our wallet and purchase another player or two?

Not many people (excluding myself of course) picked Arsenal to have much of a chance to compete for the Premier League championship. While it's still early on in the season, the Gunners currently hold a four point lead over second place Chelsea, and are undoubtedly Premier League "contenders".

The summer purchase of Mesut Özil for about $69 million has undeniably transformed the locker room at the Emirates. Not only has the German international brought world-class talent to north London, but it appears as if Özil has brought a winning mentality with him as well.

Youngsters Aaron Ramsey (arguably the Premier League player of the season so far) and Jack Wilshere, who have both always had talent, but perhaps lacked consistency, have also been outstanding for the Gunners this season. Ramsey has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in his first 20 total matches this season, and Wilshere has added four goals and one assist while providing an energetic boost to the squad.

The Gunners have accomplished their run of form without having talented trio Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Theo Walcott for most of the season. Walcott just recently returned from injury, while Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain will be returning soon. Although the team has missed these three attackers, the Gunners still appear to be firing on all cylinders, as Arsenal has scored 29 goals in their first 14 league matches.

Lost in Arsenal's exceptional run of form this season is the play of the team's defense. The collective back line mostly consisting of Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, and Kieran Gibbs (although Nacho Monreal, Thomas Vermaelen, and Carl Jenkinson have all contributed as well) have played better than any other back four in the Premier League so far.

The Gunners have only given up 10 goals in 14 league matches (best in the league), and since week one's debacle against Aston Villa, Arsenal has only given up seven league goals. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has also been fantastic, as manager Arsene Wenger rewarded the Poland international by extending his contract with the club. Szczesny has only allowed one goal over his last seven matches (games that include Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Liverpool, Marseille, and Southampton).

The Gunners also have a solid bench, as evident by Wednesday night's reserves which included six internationals. Because of the great play of Wilshere, Ramsey, Özil, Santi Cazorla, and Tomas Rosicky, the Gunners have the flexibility to utilize Podolski and Walcott in a more central role if they are in need of a backup to current starter Olivier Giroud. Additionally, if one-time outcast Nicklas Bendtner is scoring goals (as he did Wednesday night), the Gunners will be fine. With seemingly no holes in Arsenal's game at the moment, one would understand if Wenger chooses not to bring in any additional players come January