Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the club have certain "targets" and "ideas" in mind for the upcoming January transfer window.
After spending 248 days at the top of the Premier League table in the 2022-23 season only to finish second behind Manchester City, the Gunners made three marquee signings in the summer with the aim of strengthening their title credentials.
Declan Rice was captured from West Ham United for a club-record £105m fee and has been an instant hit at the Emirates Stadium, while Kai Havertz has gradually begun to have a greater influence on games after his £65m switch from Chelsea.
Jurrien Timber's £38.5m arrival from Ajax was also hailed as an astute acquisition, although the Dutchman suffered a devastating ACL injury on his Premier League debut, while David Raya joined on loan from Brentford with a view to a permanent £27m switch next summer.
Despite forking out over £200m on a trio of new arrivals in the most recent window, Arsenal are expected to be active over the winter as they endeavour to avoid another end-of-season capitulation, with targets identified in the defensive, midfield and attacking areas.
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Brentford's Ivan Toney and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are believed to be the Gunners' top offensive targets, but neither player would arrive for under £100m midway through the season, making a January transaction unfeasible.
Douglas Luiz would also command a nine-figure price tag to leave Aston Villa, which could see Arsenal prioritise cheaper midfield options such as Royal Antwerp's Arthur Vermeeren or Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.
Seventeen-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato is also said to be admired by Gunners chiefs, but the Emirates hierarchy are wary of Financial Fair Play rules after their significant summer outlay.
Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday's London derby with West Ham, where Arsenal could rise back to the top of the Premier League table with a win, Arteta confirmed that the club already have one eye on the January window but is anticipating a "very, very tricky market".
"If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that need appears, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger," Arteta told reporters.
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"We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don't know how the squad is going to look in two weeks' time and you have to be always prepared for that.
"But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well - and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls."
When asked about the prospect of outgoings amid rumours that Cedric Soares and Aaron Ramsdale could be on their way out, Arteta hinted that a winter cull was not in order given their handful of injuries, adding: "We are really short.
"We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when? That's a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that's an issue."
Arteta also confirmed that neither Thomas Partey (thigh) nor Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) would be fit for the visit of West Ham, where Fabio Vieira (groin) and Havertz (suspended) will also miss out.
Ben Knapton
