Arteta insists he's ready to go window shopping to stay ahead in the title race

Arsenal can reclaim top spot on Thursday after an impressive start to the season and look set for another strong title challenge but Mikel Arteta still wants to strengthen his squad in January.

After finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in the final straight in last season’s title race, Arteta spent heavily in a bid to go one better.

Declan Rice (£105million), Kai Havertz (£65m), Jurrien Timber (£35m) all arrived in the summer but Arteta feels new faces are needed with the club’s mounting injury list.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey, Timber and Fabio Vieira are all out injured, while Havertz will miss Thursday's West Ham clash due to suspension. Ben White also requires his workload to be managed due to a long-term issue.

The north London club want a versatile defender to plug that gap, with Ghana defensive midfielder Partey and Japan full back Tomiyasu expected to be away on international duty at the Africa Cu of Nations and Asian Cup next month.


‘At the moment, it is very difficult,’ admitted Arteta. ‘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.

‘We have certain targets. We don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

‘But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well - you have to be prepared. We will be and we will try to make the right calls.

‘If there is something that we can (do to) improve the squad, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.