Mikel Arteta Highlights Arsenal’s January Transfer Window Plans Amid Injury Concerns

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal currently holds a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Manager Mikel Arteta has announced that Arsenal will be “actively looking” for potential signings during the upcoming January transfer window. The Gunners invested approximately £250 million over the summer, acquiring eight new players to enhance the squad’s quality in light of a demanding fixture schedule and to compete for trophies across various competitions.

Last season, Arsenal’s campaign was severely hampered by injuries. The team notably missed defender Gabriel Magalhaes for the latter part of the season and had to utilize midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker. Consequently, they finished second in the Premier League for the third consecutive season and were eliminated from the Champions League in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.

This season, injury woes continue to plague the Gunners. Kai Havertz was sidelined from the opening match, while captain Martin Ødegaard, along with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Max Dowman, have also experienced periods on the injured list.

Now, after primarily affecting offensive players, the backline has begun to suffer. Arteta was compelled to deploy Declan Rice in an unusual right-back position during the match against Brighton, as Jurrien Timber was injured and Riccardo Calafiori faced an issue during the warm-up.

Although Gabriel returned from injury in the 2-1 victory, the return timelines for Cristhian Mosquera, Timber, and Calafiori remain uncertain.

“We need to be acutely aware of the situation and the timelines for certain players,” Arteta stated. “We must actively search for options, but whether we can secure them is another matter. Our responsibility is to remain well-prepared, as circumstances can change rapidly.”