Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal have “certain targets” in mind with the January transfer window fast approaching.
Arteta is certainly not shy about letting the club know his expectations ahead of a transfer window, stating after the 2-0 win over Brighton two weeks ago that he needed players in order to combat injuries and continue the club’s challenge for the Premier League title.
Arsenal may have spent Christmas at the Premier League summit for the second successive season, but Arteta knows that new arrivals could make all the difference in a bid to end the club’s 20-year title drought after coming close last campaign.
When asked about any potential activity in the January transfer window, Arteta said:
“Well at the moment, it is very difficult. We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully, we are going to get players back.
“In what condition and when? That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue.”
“Hopefully we’ll get players back – in what condition and when that’s a different condition. If there is something that can improve the squad, we’re always going to be open to do that.
“Yeah we have certain targets and ideas. We don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks time. It’s a very tricky market that shifts quite quickly.
Arteta also commented on potential departures in the upcoming window, speaking specifically on Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu and revealing that there has been “some talks between the clubs and the federations”, but they have not decided when is best to move forward with the discussions.
