‘Actively looking’ – Mikel Arteta puts Premier League rivals on red alert with Arsenal transfer message

Mikel Arteta has hinted Arsenal could be busy during the January transfer window.

The Gunners currently sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League table after 18 matches.

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Meanwhile, Arteta added eight new signings to his squad in the summer as Arsenal spent over £250million.

However, he has faced several injury headaches during the first half of the campaign.

His current crisis saw four defenders unavailable for Saturday’s narrow home victory over Brighton.

Although Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber could return against Aston Villa on Tuesday, Ben White and Cristian Mosquera remain out.

They join Kai Havertz and Max Dowman on the Gunners’ treatment table.

Arsenal transfer plans

Speaking ahead of the visit of Villa, Arteta revealed Arsenal will be ‘actively looking’ for additions when the window re-opens.

The Spaniard told reporters: “The window is there and I mean we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it, ‘Okay, what do we need?’

“And we have to be actively looking and then, whether we can do it or not, that’s a different story.

“But our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen, so hopefully it’ll be very positive.

“When you look across the other clubs, they have 24 or 25 squad players.

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“Although we have had more injuries than expected, some of them not avoidable, we want to be better and we know how important the part of having the right availability with players is going to be this season.”

Despite the injury frustrations, Arsenal found themselves top of the table at Christmas.

Arteta’s side remained ahead of Manchester City and Villa at the summit with their 2-1 win over the Seagulls last time out.

They were beaten by their next opponents earlier this month, though, ahead of the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Are Villa in the title race?

Villa are currently on an 11-match winning streak across all competitions which dates back to a defeat to Liverpool on November 1.

Asked if they are in the title race, Arteta added: “They are meant to be there when you look at what they are doing and how consistent they have been and what Unai (Emery) has done with the club.

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“They fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level.

“But every opponent that comes here, we want them to suffer, and be as dominant as we were against Brighton for the majority of the game.

“We know we will have a tough match. We will watch the last game back (against Villa) and I have a few ideas on things that we have to do better.

“It was quite cruel on us, the way we lost it, but we have learned from it and we can use that as motivation and hunger in the right manner.”

Villa are three points behind the league leaders ahead of their trip to north London.

A victory for Unai Emery’s side would see them move level on points with the Gunners at the halfway stage of the season.