Exclusive: Arsenal are becoming more and more serious about loaning £17m Real Madrid player in January

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• EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey

Arsenal's biggest problem this season has been their squad depth in that attacking midfield position.

Indeed, Martin Odegaard's injury earlier this year caused a serious dip in Arsenal's performances, and the Gunners continuously dropped points in Odegaard's absence.

Odegaard’s absence was a serious issue for Arsenal.

Odegaard has been brilliant since returning for Arsenal, but there's still that nagging feeling that the Gunners are weak in that number 10 spot.

Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe both left in the summer, so Arsenal don't have adequate backup for Odegaard.

Luckily, the January transfer window is just around the corner, and Arsenal have their eye on a potential Odegaard understudy.

Arsenal looking closely at Arda Guler

TBR Football understands Real Madrid's stance on allowing Arda Guler to leave in January is softening with the Turkish starlet growing increasingly frustrated at the Santiago Bernabeu and Arsenal are keeping a close eye on developments.

Guler has been the subject of interest from host of clubs in recent months, but Real have kept all suitors at arms-length.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti appreciates Guler, but he is finding it increasingly hard to find room for him in the system as he is nothing more than a fringe player alongside the the likes of Brahim Diaz and Dani Ceballos.

Guler had a brilliant European Championships and expected to compete for a starting role at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, but that has not come to pass.

TBR Football revealed in October that Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham had spoken to intermediaries about his possible availability, whilst Arsenal have been keeping increasingly close checks on the situation.

Arsenal were able to land Martin Odegaard in a similar way, with his initial loan becoming permanent and we are told that the chance to land a talent such as Guler has not been dismissed by the club as they are open to bolstering their attacking options in January.

There are also teams in France, Italy and Spain keen on landing Guler, but Real Madrid are left in a tough situation as the club's hierarchy including Florentino Perez are determined to keep him long-term although due to the player's frustrations, they are ready to consider a loan.

Should he move on loan, his future would be assessed again in the summer.

Arda Guler at Real Madrid compared to Martin Odegaard

There are a lot of parallels to draw between Odegaard and Guler.

Both players are very talented, diminutive and technical attacking midfield players, and they've both been lucky enough to play for Real Madrid.

Interestingly, the £17m man has fared much better for Madrid than Odegaard ever did.

Of course, Odegaard has since become a world-class player, but it is interesting to see that Guler has achieved more at Madrid than the Norwegian ever did.

You have to be a special player to make any sort of splash at the Bernabeu, and Guler is just that.

Darren Bent says Guler wouldn't be a good signing for Arsenal, but given the Gunners' lack of depth in that attacking midfield spot, this may be a smart signing for the north London club.

If Guler can follow Odegaard's development path and kick on after leaving Madrid, he could well become a superstar in the same way Odegaard has at Arsenal.