Arteta makes January transfer admission as Arsenal boss assesses mounting injury issues

Robin Bairner

5 Dec 2025 12:13 GMT
4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that the Premier League leaders have a duty to be “alert” to any opportunities that the January transfer window provides them.

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The Gunners sit five points clear of Manchester City at the summit of the top-flight, having lost only one of their first 14 matches of the season.

Arteta says that the North London side are not able to rest from this position of strength and has promised that his club will be ready to make signings if he feels they will positively impact the team.

Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa in Birmingham on Saturday, he would not be drawn into making any promises on signings, but he certainly wasn’t ruling out the possibility of more signings.

“We always have to be prepared. We need to be open for it,” he told the media when asked about the possibility of having to make signings because of the club’s mounting injury list.

“From what is going to happen from here till the window is closed as well is 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.”

© IMAGO - William Saliba: Arteta is optimistic the centre-back will be fit to face Aston Villa

Arteta is optimistic that both Leandro Trossard and William Saliba will be available to face Aston Villa but admitted that it is not certain yet.

Similarly, Cristhian Mosquera may be fit but is having an ankle problem monitored after he picked up a problem in the win over Brentford in midweek.

Arteta: The squad’s not where I want it to be

Arteta says that Arsenal may have one of the best squads in the league, but he still wants to improve it.

“We've built a squad that I believe was the best one to give us the possibility to do win the Premier League and Champions League,” he said.

“Is it what I want it to be? No. Because of the injuries that we have, to have a squad means that the players have to be fit and available because that has a lot of consequences not only during matches but also in the way that we prepare for the week and the options that we have to change and keep the presence in the team. But that's something I'm very happy with how we've dealt with certain situations.”

Arsenal possible January sales?

Arsenal are not planning any January sales, despite rumours linking the likes of Gabriel Jesus with a move away from the club.

Arteta says that the injury situation currently makes such a possibility impossible.

“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 sell players,” he said.

Arsenal still have seven fixtures to play before the January transfer window opens.

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