Mikel Arteta has suggested Arsenal are considering their options on whether to bring back Lucas Torreira from his loan.
Torreira is currently at Atletico Madrid and enjoying an impressive campaign with Diego Simeone's men level on points with leaders Real Sociedad with two games in-hand.
The 24-year-old was shipped out on loan for the season with the Uruguayan looking for more game time amid the arrival of the likes of Thomas Partey.
And the move seems to be working out for Torreira, who has already racked up nine appearances in Madrid, but meanwhile, his parent club are struggling, 15th in the Premier League.
That contrast in fortunes has led to talk Arsenal could recall their exiled midfielder from his loan at Atletico, and Gunnars boss Arteta has now spoken about the situation.
Arteta said in his press conference on Tuesday: "We have been dealing with that situation, but again, when the market opens and we have the possibility to bring players in and get players out, whatever we have to do, we will discuss it. I cannot comment on that."
That would suggest Arsenal do indeed have a recall option despite Atletico holding an option to buy Torreira at the end of the season.
If the loan was to be cancelled, Atletico would no longer have that option, but given he has played a part in their fine start to the season, they could be tempted into a permanent move in January.
Having said that, the Madrid club are short of cash, posting a debt of €999m in November despite selling Thomas Partey to Arsenal for £45 million in the summer, though it's unclear whether the Ghanaian's sale would have been taken into account for those figures.
Partey's start to life at Arsenal has been a turbulent one amid injury issues his team's poor start to the Premier League season, while his old club are looking like serious contenders to win the La Liga title this season.
