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Arsenal 'still active' in transfer market but Mikel Arteta warns he needs time to continue rebuilding squad

Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are "still active" in the transfer market but has warned fans it will take more than a couple of windows to get the squad he wants to take the Gunners back to the top.

Arsenal have already signed Willian on a free transfer as well as Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille while Dani Ceballos will spend another season on loan at The Emirates. Furthermore, Arteta now has William Saliba available after the defender spent last season on loan back at Saint-Etienne.

However, the Spaniard still has plenty of work to do with his now rather swelled squad. There are a number of players to be moved on - Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Torriera and Matteo Guendouzi are just a few of the names the Gunners are looking to sell.

They're not finished when it comes to additions either, as they look to press ahead with deals for either Thomas Partey or Lyon's Houssem Aouar.

"We are still active in the market," Arteta said. "We are looking at different options. We are active in the market with players in and out, at the moment the squad balance is not ideal and what we want to achieve.

"There is still some work to do but we have to bear in mind the complications of this market. The complexity and as well the timing because you can see that clubs are behaving in many different ways and it is a bit uncertain how this is going to evolve in the next few weeks.

"Number-wise, some positions are overbooked [in the squad]. Some others are in terms of the specific qualities we need, they are still not there. It is going to be very difficult to achieve what we want in one or two windows. It is a process, it has to be evolving and most importantly it has to be a sustainable model that we can consistently fit in, as well of course using our academy players."

Having started the season by beating Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield, the Gunners begin their Premier League campaign against Fulham on Saturday, with the club set to confirm star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has penned a new three-year deal in north London.

"I can say that I am even more confident than I was at the end of last season," Arteta said of his situation. "I am really optimistic."

Arsenal's last visit to Craven Cottage saw them run out 5-1 winners with some exhilarating football played, leading supporters to chant that they had "their Arsenal back". Almost two years on from that performance and, while it has taken a lot longer than expected, their chants may finally be coming true, though Arteta - who on Thursday saw his title changed from head coach to manager - knows there is still a long way to go.

"I think it is premature," he said. "Depending on how old an Arsenal we are talking about, for example the Invincibles. It is great, we were able to win two trophies, we changed quite a lot of things at the club. Certainly, things look a lot brighter in my opinion but still a long way to go. The gap we always talk about is still there and we have to make sure we fill that in this season as much as possible."