Arsenal could finally be able to confirm their first January addition but it may not be exactly what Mikel Arteta wants. Injuries have impacted the Gunners boss significantly in recent weeks with only four senior attackers available and a fresh defensive blow emerging before Saturday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri have all suffered issues in the last month with William Saliba the latest to miss out due to hamstring tightness. "I think tomorrow [Sunday] we'll have more and more information. They will have another test on him, and I will be more clear about it," he said on Saliba after the 2-2 draw with Villa.

Asked if he was worried, Arteta replied: "Yeah for sure, especially with the numbers that we have in the squad and looking at our bench. Very worried."

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While Raheem Sterling was really the only attacking change Arteta could make, it was telling that Arne Slot could introduce Darwin Nunez from the bench to win Liverpool's clash against Brentford with the Arsenal boss ensuring to comment on that. "The subs made the impact and [Liverpool] managed to change the game," Arteta admitted.

"And on our side, it was the opposite even though after conceding the two goals very close to each other, the danger was because I knew half the team was, that we could go downhill because we were physically drained.

"Suddenly, the team found another gear to go again and just put Aston Villa in their box and go and go again, trying to find the goal that we haven't been able to score at the end. When you look at the bench, probably you say I think we are very short."

With Arteta sending a clear transfer plea to the Arsenal board, it looks as though he may be getting what he wants in the form of a January signing. According to the Mirror, Arsenal and Manchester City are close to finding out whether they have won the race for Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan.

The 18-year-old Rosenberg midfielder is said to have been at the centre of secret negotiations with a number of top European clubs and a final decision on his future is expected to arrive soon. Reports elsewhere have suggested the Gunners are confident they can win the race for his signature while Nypan himself is also keen on the switch.

He is expected to cost in the region of £10million with no formal talks between clubs to begin until the player has decided where he would like to go. While Arteta could do with players that can immediately impact the senior team, if the teenager chooses to join Arsenal, an extra body will doubtless be of great value.