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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the club will be actively exploring options in the January transfer window as an injury-hit squad threatens to test their Premier League title push.
The league leaders could be without as many as four defenders when they host high-flying Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera were all unavailable for Saturday’s hard-fought win over Brighton, a result that kept Arsenal two points clear of Manchester City at the summit.
Despite spending more than £250 million on eight signings during the summer, Arteta indicated that further reinforcements may be required next month as the demands of the season intensify.
“The window is there, and we are Arsenal, so we have to look at it and assess what we need,” Arteta said. “We have to be proactive. Whether a deal is possible or not is another matter, but our responsibility is to be fully prepared because things can change very quickly.”
The Spaniard stressed the importance of squad depth, noting that several rivals operate with larger groups of players. While acknowledging that some injuries were unavoidable, he admitted the club must aim to improve availability if they are to maintain momentum across competitions.
“When you look at other teams, many have squads of 24 or 25 players,” Arteta said. “We’ve suffered more injuries than expected, but we know how crucial it will be to have the right players fit and available throughout the season.”
Arsenal face a stern test against Villa, who ended the Gunners’ 11-match unbeaten league run earlier this month with a dramatic stoppage-time victory.
The Birmingham side arrive in north London on the back of a club-record 11 consecutive wins in all competitions and could draw level on points with Arsenal with another success.
Arteta acknowledged Villa’s credentials under Unai Emery, his compatriot and a former Arsenal manager, describing their league position as fully deserved.
“They’ve shown consistency and quality, and what Unai has done there is evident,” he said. “They’ve earned their place through performances on the pitch.”
However, Arteta insisted his team would be determined to make life difficult for their visitors and use their previous defeat as motivation.
“The way we lost last time was painful, but we’ve learnt from it,” he said. “We know it will be a tough match, but we want to dominate and make every opponent suffer here. That experience should give us the hunger to do better.”
