Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal are very likely to make more signings when the January transfer window opens in order to maintain their title bid.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League table and look set to stay there going into the World Cup break.
But their lack of squad depth, especially when compared to closest rivals Manchester City, does leave something to be desired and this shortcoming was exposed on Wednesday night.
The Gunners were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton after losing 3-1 at the Emirates, their first home defeat of the season and only their third loss of the campaign so far.
Arteta made 10 changes to his side from their last game and while he claimed that the result did not reflect the performance, it has led some to raise concerns that his team to not have the depth required to maintain a title challenge.
There will be many games to come post the World Cup, with Arsenal also competing in the FA Cup and Europa League and as such Arteta was asked in his post-match press conference whether the club would have to dip back into the transfer market.
The manager said: ‘We know where we are at the moment. We know as well that we have certain injuries, and the squad is very, very short.
‘We have tried to manage that in the best possible situation. It’s the same when we win a football match so no excuses. It’s the same squad as when we win.
‘I said from day one that we have a short squad because at the end we left some players. It’s what we have.
‘If everyone’s available and no one is injured we are OK, but the moment there is, we know what it is. It’s nothing new. I think I said it the first day after the transfer window.
‘[January] is a window that is open and we’ll have to discuss the opportunities that we have, the capacity that we have for any changes and be on the market for opportunities because we don’t know what’s going to happen the last game before the World Cup.
‘So it’s a lot of options that are open.’
Arsenal already spent £116million over the last summer, on top of the £148m they spent last season.
They continue to be linked to a number of star players including Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans and Shakhtar winger Mykhailo Mudryk.
MORE : Mikel Arteta defends young Arsenal keeper Karl Hein after horror show in Brighton defeat
MORE : Ex-Brazil star blasts Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli being named in World Cup squad
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