Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed the Premier League leaders are prepared to delve into the January transfer market to bolster their squad, should their ongoing injury woes fail to improve. The Gunners face a crucial top-of-the-table clash against Aston Villa on Tuesday with several key defenders still sidelined.
Defensive Crisis Forces Tactical Shifts
While the north London club has welcomed back the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes this month, a fresh wave of absences has hit Arteta's plans. The treatment room now includes Kai Havertz, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Max Dowman.
This defensive shortage has forced Arteta to get creative in recent weeks, with midfielders such as Christian Norgaard and Declan Rice having to deputise in the backline. The situation has prompted serious questions about the squad's depth as the title race intensifies.
Arteta's Transfer Window Stance
When directly questioned about the potential for signing a new defender in January, Arteta offered a candid assessment. ‘Depending on the availability of certain players, so the window is there,’ he stated. ‘I mean, we're Arsenal and we have to be looking at it like, “OK, What do we need?”’
He emphasised the club's proactive approach, adding: ‘And we have to be actively looking, and then can we do it or not. That's a different story, but our job is to be always very prepared because something can happen.’
Arteta highlighted the importance of squad size, noting that rival clubs often carry 24 or 25 senior players. He acknowledged that while some injuries were unavoidable, improving player availability is a critical factor for the remainder of the campaign.
Seeking Revenge Against Villa
The immediate focus, however, is on Tuesday's high-stakes encounter with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Unai Emery's side, sitting just two points behind Arsenal in third place, inflicted a painful 2-1 last-gasp defeat on the Gunners earlier in December.
Arteta is using that loss as a motivational tool, insisting his players will review the match. ‘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 yeah, we learned from it,’ he said.
He has set a clear objective for the return fixture: ‘What we want is that every opponent that comes here suffers, and we are as dominant as we were today. Against Villa we have a really tough match.’ Arteta believes channelling the ‘pain and hunger’ from that defeat in the right manner will be key to securing a vital victory.
