**Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal must be “actively looking” at the January transfer window as injury concerns continue to mount, particularly in defence, but stopped short of committing the club to specific signings or sales.**
[The Arsenal manager](https://hayters.com/mikel-arteta-arsenal-v-aston-villa/) was pressed on whether the absence of key defenders could force the club into the market next month, with Ben White currently sidelined and Jurrien Timber a concern after missing the weekend’s win over Brighton, a match in which Gabriel ended his lengthy injury absence as a substitute.
While Arteta stressed that the club planned for a deep squad in the summer, he admitted availability, rather than numbers, may yet dictate their approach.
“I don’t know,” Arteta said when asked directly about reinforcing the defence. “We’re going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players. That’s the depth that you need, and when you look across at other clubs, they have 24 or 25 squad players.”
Arteta acknowledged Arsenal have suffered “more injuries than expected”, some of which he described as unavoidable, and underlined the importance of having the “right availability” as the season reaches a decisive phase. With Arsenal competing on multiple fronts, flexibility remains key.
Asked whether the squad is effectively full or if there is room for additions, Arteta was clear the door remains open. “Depending on the availability of certain players, the window is there,” he said. “We’re Arsenal and we have to be looking at it and ask ‘what do we need?’ We have to be very prepared, because something can happen.”
The Arsenal boss also addressed the possibility of players leaving in January, suggesting injuries elsewhere in the squad could make departures more complicated. “We assess every situation,” he said, placing responsibility largely with sporting director Andrea Berta to read the market and manage individual cases. “We have to assess where we are with each of them and get the best situation.”
Arteta’s comments suggest no drastic overhaul is planned, but Arsenal are unwilling to be passive. With defensive options stretched and the title race finely balanced, the January window could yet prove pivotal even if, as Arteta hinted, whether deals can actually be done is “a different story”.