Mikel Arteta: We Have To Maximise Every Transfer Window, Edu Is Working Hard

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen the squad…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the recruitment team are working hard to strengthen the squad after admitting the team is short on numbers, he told reporters (via HaytersTV).

With Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny away on AFCON duty coupled with Ainsley Maitland-Niles impending departure, Arteta confirmed that the squad was light.

The Spaniard has drafted in some U23 players ahead of the FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest as we prepare to compete in three different competitions this month.

Speaking on the shortage in midfield, Arteta said: “So obviously we are going to move (for a midfielder), and we are going to look for options because we are very short” (via Arsenal.com).

The boss is usually coy about our needs in the market, especially when such words can be viewed as being desperate by a selling club which could affect their asking price.

His boldness about our intentions could mean the club are further down the line than initially thought with regards to strengthening the team.

Later, speaking to the media in the embargoed section, Arteta further stressed the need to strengthen and take advantage of every window, especially when aiming to construct a squad rebuild.

“I think with the amount of things [we want to do] and the way we want to evolve the squad, we have to maximise every window in many different ways,” the 39-year-old said.

“We are alert, Edu and his team are working very hard because we know exactly what we need to do and whether we can accomplish that in January or the summer is a different question and is related to other stuff. But we’re there.”

Arteta also confirmed that the club didn’t have any intention of offering Jack Wilshere a permanent deal even though the former midfielder is training with the squad.

The next few weeks will shape up to be interesting indeed – both on and off the pitch!