Arsenal transfer priority clear with Gunners still tracking Amadou Onana and Douglas Luiz

Arsenal have made a strong start to the season and have the chance to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.

But the club need to balance meeting Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and so it is likely they will have to sell first before they buy.

The Arsenal squad has been hit by injuries, with defence the most impacted in recent weeks.

Mikel Arteta also wants to add more firepower in attack, but that may have to wait until the summer.

Sporting director Edu will lead January transfer activity and Arsenal will be ready to act fast if needed.

Top priority

Due to injuries, Arsenal should first be looking to strengthen at the back.

Jurrien Timber is out with a serious knee injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu has a calf problem and will be heading to the Asian Cup with Japan in January.

Jakub Kiwior provides cover at full-back and centre-back, but beyond that the Gunners look light.

Cedric Soares is an option but he will be a free agent come the summer, and Arteta has been reluctant to use academy youngster Reuell Walters.

What else they need

Another midfielder would be handy, once again due to fitness issues.

Thomas Partey has been out for months with a thigh injury and heads to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana in January.

A new forward to add firepower would also be welcome. Arsenal have been scouting strikers, while they also want a winger.

Such additions, however, may have to wait until the summer transfer window for financial reasons and other priorities in the squad.

Possible ins

A loan signing in defence would seem sensible to tide Arsenal over until Tomiyasu and Timber return.

In midfield, Arsenal are long-term admirers of Douglas Luiz but Aston Villa are determined to keep hold of him.

The Gunners have also tracked Amadou Onana for a year and could have more luck prising him out of Everton.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been scouted, but the Nigerian is not expected to leave until the summer. Wolves winger Pedro Neto is a long-term target.

Possible outs

There should not be too many exits given that the squad is already stretched.

Cedric could go, given he has six months to run on his contract and is attracting interest from Villarreal.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is struggling for minutes, but it is unlikely Arsenal would sell him in January.

Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe could attract interest too but again it is hard to foresee the Gunners letting them go, unless the fee was so high that they could not turn it down and they had replacements lined up.