Arsenal’s forgotten January signing scores wonder goal to remind Mikel Arteta of transfer impact

Arsenal’s January transfer window addition of Evan Mooney from St Mirren scored an amazing goal for the youth team

Many have scrutinised Arsenal for not being active enough during recent January transfer windows. The last time the club made any additions to their senior squad was as far back as the winter window of 2023.

Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior came in with only the Belgian winger still a part of Mikel Arteta’s current plans after two back-to-back second place finishes. The Gunners have never been strong on the use of the January window, with the period seen more as a time to complete unfinished business from the summer.

The Gunners prefer to do their work during the off-season, and in 2025 signed eight new players and so therefore were perhaps not expected to move for anyone this winter just gone. However, a serious injury to Mikel Merino late in the window did offer up some questions as to whether they might make a move, but they did not.

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Then shortly after the window closed, Kai Havertz, who had only just returned from a knee injury which required a second surgery in 2025, suffered a hamstring issue. Arteta was asked after the draw with Brentford whether he regretted sending Ethan Nwaneri out on loan to Marseille when he would then go on to suffer injuries to two attacking players.

“That’s easy [to say],” Arteta said while chuckling. “After making the decision, who could have predicted that Mikel was going to be out for five months and Kai?

“It’s unfortunate, at the end we have to make the decisions on the moment, understanding the context there, and the best decision for the club, for Ethan, for sure it was for him to go and experience a different environment, have minutes played, and get ready to come back to us.”

Arsenal did, however, make some additions to their youth side this winter. The club spent around £1million bringing Evan Mooney and Jaden Dixon into their under-21s squad from St Mirren and Stoke City, respectively.

The pair have since trained with the first team, and on Monday evening, Mooney made his first major impact at his new club. Scoring from just beyond the halfway line against Reading in a 4-1 win.

This was his first goal for the club and one he will remember for a very long time. The 18-year-old has been trusted through the middle, meaning Andre Harriman-Annous, who made two senior appearances for the Gunners this season, including his official debut, has been pushed out to the left wing with Mooney’s arrival.

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