Arsenal could break transfer record in January and loan Thierry Henry

Arsenal could spend big in January after suffering a humiliating Capital One Cup exit this week at the hands of Bradford City.

Ladbrokes go 3/1 that the club breaks its transfer record with an expensive new signing in the next window, with a number of names in contention.

Arsene Wenger is under heaps of pressure following the cup exit and the Gunners dismal league form, which has left them in 7th spot in the Premier League.

One positive for the north London outfit is that they are through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League – a feat not managed by Manchester City nor Chelsea.

However, the nature of the Bradford loss has riled fans, and Wenger has been given a free hand by the board to dip into cash reserves of around £50m at the Emirates Stadium.

Normally a tactician shy on throwing money at improving his squad, the Frenchman may finally have realised that only fiscal strength can rejuvenate Arsenal’s performances.

Plenty of transfer talk is doing the rounds surrounding the club, but one name that continues to crop up is that of Klass-Jan Huntelaar, who is the shortest price selection on offer at 5/2.

The Dutchman is an experienced European marksman who scored in both games against the Gunners this season for German club Schalke during their Champions League meetings.

The other man given short odds to join Wenger’s team is former striker and club legend Thierry Henry – who is odds-on at 4/6 to sign on loan in January and play in at least one game this season.

Other players in the running to make the switch to Arsenal in the next transfer window include coveted Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha, who is a long-term target offered at 3/1.

Continental stars Alessandro Matri of Juventus and Kevin Strootman of PSV Eindhoven have also been linked – Matri at 7/2 and Strootman at 4/1.

An outside bet of 10/1 is available on a sensational swoop for ex-Gunners hero and current Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, although that deal has far-fetched written all over it.

Going the other way and Andrei Arshavin is 8/11 to leave the club in January, having been largey frozen out of the first team this season.

French right-back Bacary Sagna is an important member of the side, but he could leave at 7/2 with young Carl Jenkinson emerging in his position.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.