Mikel Arteta and Arsenal 'considering' January transfer after Thomas Partey blow

Arsenal are in a strong position to qualify automatically to the Champions League knockouts following a 3-0 win over Monaco on Wednesday night.

It was their fourth victory in six games as Bukayo Saka bagged a brace in either half and Kai Havertz netted with two minutes from time. The result put Mikel Arteta's side in third place - two points from Barcelona in second and five from leaders Liverpool.

According to a study from Opta, they believe 16 points will be enough for teams to go through automatically while 15 points was sufficient for eighth place. With that said, Arsenal may only need to win one of their last two games left of the league phase.

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They will host Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates on January 22 before heading to Spain to face La Liga opposition Girona, a week later.

Here, football.london has taken a look at the Arsenal headlines in the last 24 hours.

Thomas Partey contract talks 'stall'

According to the Daily Mail, no progress has been made over Thomas Partey's contract situation. The midfielder is in the final six months of his contract which is due to expire in the summer.

As a result, he is free to engage in conversations with clubs abroad from next month. Speaking about the situation, Arteta said: "We will have the right time to discuss this situation [his contract]. He’s showing consistency at the highest level again because of his ability and the way he feels physically which is allowing him to do that. I am very pleased with that."

football.london says: Partey brings a lot of experience to this Arsenal squad and is a well respected player in the dressing room. At 31, his experience on the pitch is significantly important in the ongoing fight for the Premier League title.

After suffering with a number of injuries in recent years, the Ghanian midfielder has enjoyed a revival under Arteta and I believe that the club should look to offer him improved terms. Although it would also be understandable if Arsenal wished to take his wages off the bill, with him reported to be one of the highest earners at the club with a pay packet of around £200,000 per-week. However, offering him a one-year contract with an option for a second, wouldn't be a bad investment.

Arsenal 'considering' January move for striker

TEAMtalk suggests Arsenal could sign a new striker in the New Year with Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic heavily linked. The club are on the lookout for an out-and-out number nine as Gabriel Jesus continues to struggle in front of goal when called upon.

With his contract running out in 2026, Vlahovic is yet to sign a new deal in Turin and reports in Italy recently speculated that Juve may look to sell their striker either in January or the summer if they cannot get him to agree a new deal on lower wages. Vlahovic is thought to be the highest paid player in Serie A and the Turin club are attempting to cut their cloth accordingly.

football.london says: Given Gabriel Jesus' struggles in front of goal and missing out on the opportunity to sign a number nine in the summer, that should be one of the main priorities next month. Up until now, the club have put all their trust in Havertz, who has done a good job so far but solely relying on him for the rest of the season could be risky if he was to get injured. Jesus is yet to score in the Premier League this season while Havertz has netted five goals in 14 league games - which is not enough for a team who is fighting for the title.

Arsenal could do with a player who offers something unique in the box and who can find and create an opportunity out of nothing. Vlahovic would be a solid option.