Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are “open” and “alert” to doing business ahead of the January transfer window.
The Gunners splashed £250million in the summer and brought in eight new players to fuel their Premier League title charge this season.
Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries so far, though, and could be without as many as six first-team players for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.
And asked if injuries could impact Arsenal’s January transfer plans, Arteta said: “We always have to be prepared.
“I mean, the moment that we have an option to touch the squad, to bring to the squad or to protect the squad, depending on what happens, I think we need to be open, for example.
“What’s going to happen from here till the window is closed as well, it’s football. So we don’t know.
“But we’re certainly going to be alert and we know where the risk can come in terms of the squad, and be ready just in case we have to do something.”
Arsenal have, arguably, the strongest squad in the Premier League when everyone is fit.
But given the number of injuries the Gunners have had, Arteta is currently reluctant to let anyone go in January.
“Well, at the moment, obviously, we haven’t had a situation, as we mentioned before, that players are out of the squad for three or four weeks in a row,” he said.
“At the moment, we know that the squad we have, we are fulfilling it with the players that are fit. So, at the moment, it’s very clear that there’s no option to do that.”
