Arsenal: Mikel Arteta ‘actively looking’ at signings in January transfer window

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta has said he will “actively review” potential signings in the January transfer window.

Arsenal spent around £250 million in the summer and signed eight new players as they look to improve the quality of their squad to cope with a crowded fixture list and challenge for trophies in many competitions.

Last season, Arsenal’s season suffered major losses due to injuries.

They were without defender Gabriel Magalhaes for the final part of the season and played with midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker, finishing second in the Premier League for the third consecutive year and being eliminated by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.

Arsenal have also had injuries this season. They lost Kai Havertz from the opening day, captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Max Dowman had spells on the sidelines.

Now, after injuries affecting mainly attacking players, it is Arsenal’s backline that is suffering.

Arteta was forced to play Declan Rice in an unfamiliar right-back position against Brighton on Saturday after Jurrien Timber was injured and Riccardo Calafiori suffered a problem in the warm-up.

Gabriel returned from injury in the 2-1 win but return dates for Cristhian Camira, Timber and Calafiori are unknown.

“We will be really aware of the situation and the timeline of some of the players,” Arteta said.

“We have to actively look at, then can we do this or not?

“That’s a different story, but our job is always to be very prepared because something can happen.”