Arsenal: Arteta says Gunners have to be ‘actively looking’ at signings in January
Arsenal are dealing with several injury issues and could dip into the transfer window in January to protect against further setbacks.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have to be “actively looking” at signings during the January transfer window amid the injuries impacting the Premier League leaders.
Arsenal have dealt with injuries throughout the campaign, and head into Tuesday’s crucial clash with unlikely challengers Aston Villa with several issues on the fitness front.
Kai Havertz (knee) remains on the sideline with an injury suffered on the opening day, while Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Ben White (hamstring) and Max Dowman (ankle) are also out.
Riccardo Calafiori (muscle) and Jurrien Timber (knock) are doubts for the Villa game.
Captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke have all missed games through injury, and Arteta accepts Arsenal may have to reinforce the squad to protect against further setbacks.
“We’re going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players [returning from injury],” Arteta said. “If you go from the front line to the back line, that’s the depth that you need. When you look across the other clubs, they have 24 or 25 players, so there’s nothing special in our squad.
“The thing is, we’ve had more injuries than expected, some of them not avoidable, I would say, but we want to be better, and we know how important the part of having the right availability with players is going to play in the season.
“The window is there. We’re Arsenal and we have to be looking at it and saying ‘OK, what do we need?’ We have to be actively looking, and then can we do it or not? That’s a different story, but our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen.”
In the immediate future, Arteta is relishing a clash with a Villa side just three points behind Arsenal and on a run of 11 straight wins, including a 2-1 victory over the Gunners earlier this month.
“We have a really tough match. We know their level, what they are doing, but it’s a beautiful game as well to prepare and play,” Arteta said.
“They merit to be there. Look at what they are doing and how consistent they’ve been, and what Unai has done with the club. I think they fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level.
“We’ll watch it back. I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better. It was quite cruel as well, the way we lost it, but we’ll learn from it.”