Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta revealed on Wednesday that the club is unlikely to allow players to leave during the winter transfer period next January, as the team faces a shortage in some positions, with the club focusing on some players to include in the transfer period.
Arsenal topped the English Premier League table during the Christmas period for the second season in a row, but unlike last season, Arteta hopes to have more depth in his squad this time after that proved unavailable to the team in its title race with Manchester City last season.
Arteta told reporters before the team’s home match against West Ham United on Thursday: At the present time, it is very difficult (the departure of any player in January). We are already suffering from a numerical shortage and we have situations in which we were exposed during the past weeks.
He continued: We hope to get the players back again, but under what circumstances and when this is the question. We already have long-term injury players that give us variety, and that’s the problem.
Arsenal spent more than 200 million pounds last summer to include new deals such as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, but Arteta said that the club may consider new contracts if it finds the right player.
He added: If there is anything that can improve the squad, we will always be open to doing it. We have a set of specific goals and ideas. We don’t know what the lineup will look like in two weeks, we always have to be prepared for that. The cash market is very deceptive and fluctuates quickly and unpredictably.
