Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are ready to be active in the January transfer window if the right deal presents itself.
The Gunners are once again challenging for the title this season and they can go back top of the Premier League if they beat West Ham on Thursday.
Arsenal spent over £200million on new signings in the summer, but Arteta has said they could add to the squad in January. The Gunners are short on options in defence due to injuries, while they have also been scouting midfielders and forwards.
“If there is something that we can do to improve the squad and that needs to appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger,” said Arteta.
“We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.
“But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls.”
Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries this season and will be without four players for the match with West Ham at Emirates Stadium, while Kai Havertz is also suspended.
Arteta has expressed concerns about the squad being “short” on options due to injuries and he has hinted it will make departures in January unlikely.
“Well at the moment, it is very difficult,” he said. “We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed to for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back.
“In what condition and when? That’s a question mark and as well because we still have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue.”
The Gunners are currently missing the services of several important players namely, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Jorginho, and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injuries. They were leading the Premier League title race on Christmas day after holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday. But they lost their place at the top after the Reds beat Burnley 2-0 on Tuesday.
Arteta’s side, who have won just once in their last three Premier League outings, will go all out for three points on Thursday when they take on West Ham United at Emirates Stadium.
