Mikel Arteta doubles down on clear Arsenal January transfer hint as two blows confirmed
Mikel Arteta has again reiterated that the size of his Arsenal squad is a concern with the January transfer window having just opened. The Gunners brought in Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori as their permanent signings in the summer with Raheem Sterling and Neto also joining on loan.
The likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson were among those to move on and the departure of three senior attackers - without clearly replacing them - has now appeared to come back and bite Arsenal. Because of a hamstring injury, Bukayo Saka looks set to be absent for the next few months.
Sterling has also missed action recently which has required Arteta to conjure up several solutions which might be rather difficult, considering his recent admission. "I think [having to deal with Saka's absence will make me a better coach]," he told reporters last December.
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"And, obviously, we started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the Premier League, we knew that.
"Okay, so what do we need then? If we are the thinnest, what do we need? And really dig into that and make sure that we utilise every player in the best possible potential, everybody has to feel part of it."
Though Sterling is expected back sooner than expected, Arteta was handed two fresh blows before the Brentford clash and while neither players are longer-term concerns, he again appeared to send a subtle transfer hint to those above him.
"Kai [Havertz] wasn't feeling good," he told TNT Sports when asked about his absence.
"A few players were like this, and that's normal. And Declan [Rice] as well he had to come off the other day, it's the second time he had a niggle. We have nine games this month, and we really have to be careful because of the size of the squad that we have."
In order to keep his squad fresh and, due to some enforced absences, Arteta made four changes to his starting XI with Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey, Ethan Nwaneri and fit-again Calafiori among those to come in. From those calls and more claims about the squad being thin, it's quite clear Arteta wants some reinforcements.
Given the injury to Saka, it seems likely that attack is the area in which focus will be placed, with the likes of Dani Olmo and Randal Kolo Muani potentially available in January.