Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta comments on potential January plans

The Gunners can be satisfied with their efforts during the first 15 matches of the Premier League, accumulating 29 points during that period.

However, sitting in third position in the table and six points adrift of leaders Liverpool, there is plenty of scope for improvement.

Arteta may have already been contemplating changes to his senior ranks before experiencing somewhat of an injury crisis, particularly in defence.

As quoted by The Standard, the Spaniard has admitted that consideration is being given to adding at least one fresh face to his squad at the midway point of the season.

"We are on it"

Arteta said: "The window gives us an opportunity to strengthen the team if we feel that is needed and we feel that we have the capacity to do that as well.

"We are on it and just have to assess the situation because it is changing every week. At the moment not for the better, but I'm positive that in a few weeks we're going to be in a better place."

On Tuesday, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori and Thomas Partey were all missing from training.

Although there is the prospect of each of them returning in the foreseeable future, they currently join Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines.

Which positions could Arsenal target?

Such is Arsenal's injury issues that forgotten left-back Kieran Tierney is in line to make an appearance against Monaco on Wednesday night.

However, with the Scotland international having been out of contention through Arteta's decisions and injury, it remains to be seen whether he will be kept at the Emirates Stadium in January.

That could mean that a full-back ends up being on Arteta's agenda, while it has long been mooted that a centre-forward remains a possibility.

The rest of the positions in the squad could stay unchanged unless there are any exits. Versatile defender Jakob Kiwior is someone who has been linked with a return to Italy.

Written by

Darren Plant