Mikel Arteta demands Arsenal make early January transfer signings and ‘not just a body’ as he eyes Prem title charge
MIKEL ARTETA has demanded Arsenal make early January transfer signings as he eyes a Premier League title charge.
The Spaniard brought in the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira early on in the summer.
And Arteta wants business wrapped up in quick fashion again when the January sales start.
He said: “We knew the importance of getting players early in the summer and that is the same we want to do in January.
“This is idealistic. Sometimes it is not realistic. But obviously, if you ask my opinion, as quick as possible we want the players in to get settled.”
Arsenal have been linked with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk after Jesus needed knee surgery following injury at the World Cup.
But Arteta said: “What we cannot afford to do is get a player here that is not for us.
“We don’t need a body, we need players that make the team better.”
Arsenal return to Premier League action tonight, hosting West Ham in a London derby.
And they do so top of the table, five points above champions Manchester City.
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So Arteta wants to recruit players with a winning mentality.
He said: “We think about Arsenal as a team and a club that has to be at the very best.
“The hardest thing is to win. And once you have won, to win again. And to win again and again.”