January transfer windows haven't tended to be busy ones for Arsenal in recent seasons. Two years ago they signed Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Jorginho within the space of a week, but the winter window either side of that they failed to bring a single addition to Mikel Arteta's squad.

This time around though, things are different. Arsenal are in the midst of a title race that is eminently winnable. Manchester City have faltered massively under Pep Guardiola, and Arne Slot is still in his debut season despite an impressive start with Liverpool.

Thus far, Arsenal have failed to capitalise. The Gunners sit down in third place having failed to find real consistency for most of the campaign.

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The January window could be the time to address that. Arsenal are lacking somewhat when it comes to creativity in the squad and have also struggled massively for numbers in the full back positions. This does not look likely to change any time soon with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu both out for the foreseeable future.

football.london understands that Arsenal's expectation is to be reactive rather than proactive this window. Meetings were held with owners Stan and Josh Kroenke over the November international break in which the upcoming opportunities for transfers was discussed. Arteta has already hinted that his side will be ready for anything that comes up.

"The window that 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," he said earlier this month. "We are on it and juts 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."

Things are made slightly more complicated by the fact that Arsenal don't have a sporting director in place. Edu resigned from his post in November and is currently on gardening leave until the summer.

As things stand the Gunners have appointed his former number two Jason Ayto as interim sporting director. This means that Ayto will oversee transfer activity this January in conjunction with Arteta and Arsenal's managing director Richard Garlick.

There has been suggestions that this period of transition could affect Arsenal's ability to act in January. Internally, though, the Gunners aren't too worried about this.

"Jason Ayto is our interim sporting director," Arteta said. "He has got the full capacity and support of the football club right now. He is doing really well with his team.

"The process is open, as you know. The club with the support of all of us will decide who is the best person to move us forward."

It is not necessarily going to be the busiest of January's at Arsenal. With the internal structure already set though, don't rule out any business entirely just yet.