Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains January transfer plan

Mikel Arteta has insisted that Arsenal will have no shortage of options to improve their squad in the January transfer window as he looks to prepare for the all-important Premier League run-in by adding some extra quality to his ranks. The Gunners remain at the top of the table after beating Chelsea over the weekend and have been linked with a number of exciting January targets, including the likes of Palmeiras midfielder Danilo and Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.Arsenal spent over £110million on new players over the summer and have been widely tipped to loosen their purse strings once again in January, with Arteta set to be backed by the club’s hierarchy in order to land the targets he wants in north London. The Spaniard hinted at a desire to use the mid-season market to his advantage after Wednesday’s defeat at the hands of Brighton in the Carabao Cup by admitting that his squad could benefit from one or two additions at the turn of the year.”It’s the same squad as when we win,” said Arteta after the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium. “I said from day one that we have a short squad because at the end we left some players. It’s what we have. If everyone’s available and no one is injured we are OK, but the moment there is, we know what it is.”It’s nothing new. I think I said it the first day after the transfer window. That’s a window that is open [in January] and we’ll have to discuss the opportunities that we have, the capacity that we have for any changes and be on the market for opportunities because we don’t know what’s going to happen the last game before the World Cup. So it’s a lot of options that are open.”JUST IN: Man Utd move transfer interest onto Osimhen amid ‘striker shortlist’ Mikel Arteta spoke about Arsenal’s plan for the January window on Wednesday evening (Image: GETTY)Arsenal are widely expected to target a move for Danilo when the transfer window reopens in January, with the Palmeiras man said to be valued at around £20m by his current employers. He has been one of the best performers in South America in recent months and could potentially emerge as an attractive option for Arsenal as a result of his relatively modest asking price.The Gunners have also been keeping tabs on Mudryk, with several top European clubs expected to battle it out for the 21-year-old’s signature before the start of next season, while Villarreal starlet Yeremy Pino has also been earmarked as a player of interest by those at the Emirates Stadium. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be successful in their pursuit of their main targets over the course of the January window, though, with their respective clubs unlikely to be keen on doing business in the middle of the season unless the north Londoners can make it worth their while.DON’T MISSMan Utd team news hint dropped as Ten Hag prepares to make changesErling Haaland ‘taking Spanish lessons’ as Real Madrid links persist’Harry Kane needs to go to Bayern Munich’ jokes Alan Shearer The Gunners splashed over £110m on new players during the summer months (Image: EXPRESS)Meanwhile, former England defender Rio Ferdinand has urged the Gunners to push for the signing of Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, who will be out of contract at the end of the season as things stand and has been tentatively linked with a move to Arsenal for a number of years.”Zaha would be good at Arsenal, I think,” Ferdinand told Vibe with Five. “At Arsenal, he’d be a good challenge to the two [Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli] that are there and a good option. They should have bought him when they bought [Nicolas] Pepe.”He’s probably had people tapping him up already, he’s probably got a club semi-lined up if not 100 per cent lined up already. If I’m Wilfried Zaha, it comes down to two things. It will come down to money – who’s going to pay him the most money? – and it will come down to where will his career go to another level. Will he have a chance to win [trophies] maybe?”Want the latest Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our Facebook group by clicking here.