Mikel Arteta has admitted he is unsure whether Arsenal will strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.
Arsenal have been linked with making additions this month, following Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury. The winger is expected to miss at least two months after undergoing surgery. Saka’s absence leaves Arsenal without their most creative presence and an attacking signing has been mooted.
This January is Mikel Arteta’s 11th transfer window as Arsenal manager. He has recently passed his fifth anniversary in charge. In total, he has signed 30 players for a gross spend of £714million ($896m).
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However, Arteta admits he is unsure whether there will be incomings at the Emirates. The Spaniard confirmed Arsenal are assessing the transfer market but are primarily focused on the current squad.
“I don’t know. The focus is on the players that we have,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Brighton tomorrow.
“If there is somebody in the market that we can afford and we believe they will have a real impact on the team then we have to be open for that possibility always. At the moment, the focus is on what we have.”
Ethan Nwaneri started the 3-1 win at Brentford on New Year’s Day, as the 17-year-old made his full Premier League debut. Arteta was asked whether the teenager was Arsenal’s most natural replacement for Saka.
“He is a player that can play in various positions. It isn’t a position that he has played a lot to be fair, even when he was at academy level, but he can adapt to the demands that we have in a few different positions. I think he did really well the other day.”
