An unbeaten streak of 20 matches has given Arsenal fans reasons to be optimistic as the 2016/17 campaign nears its halfway-point.

Arsene Wenger’s side have not lost in any competition since their thrilling 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool on the opening weekend, and have since shown signs that they are ready to end a 12-year wait for the Premier League title.

The Gunners have won eight of their opening 13 league games, and also qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare thanks to three wins and a draw from their first four group games.

Their 2-2 draw at home to French champions Paris Saint-Germain may have ended their chances of finishing top of Group A, but Arsenal are playing well enough to take on any side Europe in the knockout stages.

However, they turn their attentions to the League Cup this week and a quarter-final clash with Claude Puel’s Southampton this evening, in a competition that Wenger has yet to win in his 20 years in charge in North London.

With the Gunners sitting fourth with 28 points from 13 games, and just three adrift of league leaders Chelsea, many are talking about a potential title challenge from Wenger’s men, but there are some that still feel that Arsenal will come up short as the season wears on.

Thus, reinforcements may be needed in January, so here are the THREE star signings on the top of Arsenal’s Christmas list…

David Alaba

Wenger may already be thinking about a long-term replacement for 30-year-old left-back Nacho Monreal.

The Spanish defender has struggled a bit in recent weeks, and gave away the penalty in the defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, just a week after fortunately getting away with one at Manchester United.

With Kieran Gibbs clearly not up to it and not fancied by Wenger, he could look at Bayern Munich defender David Alaba as the perfect addition.

The 24-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, and is also hugely capable of playing at centre-back or in the centre of midfield.

His versatility could be a huge asset to Wenger, who may also be looking at a centre-half, but he’s not the only one keeping tabs on the Austrian international.

Manchester United and neighbours Manchester City are also reported to be interested in Alaba, but the 24-year-old is reported to prefer a move to Arsenal, so Wenger must get a deal done quickly when the window reopens.

Kostas Manolas

Shkodran Mustafi moved to Arsenal in the summer and, alongside Laurent Koscielny, they have struck up a solid centre-back partnership for the Gunners.

However, their options past these two are limited, with Per Mertesacker out of contract at the end of the season, Rob Holding still only 21, and Gabriel still struggling to adapt to English football.

Consequently, a new centre-half may be needed for Arsenal to sustain a title challenge, and that could come in the form of Roma defender Kostas Manolas.

The 25-year-old is highly-rated and has played a key part in the Roma backline in recent seasons, appearing over 40 times in each of the last two seasons, both of which the club have finished in the top three of Serie A.

However, he has reportedly refused to sign a new deal with the Italian giants, and with Wenger showing interest in the Greek international over the summer, he should attempt to strike a deal again in January.

Julian Draxler

Wenger has reportedly been a long-term admirer of Wolfsburg’s Julian Draxler, so recent suggestions that he’s ready to leave the German side will surely interest the Gunners boss.

Draxler only moved to the Bundesliga side last year from Schalke, but impressed throughout last season’s campaign, netting eight times and laying on seven assists as the club finished eighth in the German top-flight, and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

However, the 23-year-old has struggled to replicate that form this season, so it could be better for him and the club to part ways sooner rather than later.

Wenger reportedly remains interest, and Draxler would certainly bolster Arsenal’s already-talented attacking options.