Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal's 'priority' for January transfer window

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the club remains "very alert" to the transfer market this month but isn't looking to actively recruit.

The Gunners have been dealt a tough hand this season by persistent injury problems, denting their Premier League title hopes. It appeared to ease after the November international break, but fresh problems including the losses of Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri have hit the squad again.

On top of that, a seasonal illness has swept through the group in recent weeks, worst affecting Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard but claiming plenty of others.

Even so, Arteta says the priority in January is continuing to work with the existing players.

"That hasn't changed - again the focus is our player[s]," Arteta responded when asked about the possibility of new faces joining the club.

"Whatever is in the market, we're very alert, but the priority is working with the players that we have at the moment and [Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday], which is a big night for us.

"It's not a yes [to new players, but], it's not a no!"

Arsenal have struggled for depth at the back this season due to various absences. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu being sidelined has left Jurrien Timber the only available right-back, which in turn has forced Thomas Partey to drop back from midfield to occasionally cover.

Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori has also missed plenty of football on the opposite side.

The squad continues to lack a natural goalscorer up front, with Havertz delivering respectable but not prolific numbers and Gabriel Jesus guilty of firing in spurts rather than consistently. Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush has been linked, although there is likely to be fierce competition from Manchester City and Liverpool should the Gunners formalise rumoured interest.

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