MIKEL ARTETA is hoping Arsenal will dosome business in the January transfer market after being struck by a defensive injury crisis.
RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano and Samuel Umtiti of Barcelona are strongly linked to the club, along with Juventus pair Daniele Rugani and Merih Demiral.
The Gunners may be left with little choice given Rob Holding‘s issues in getting back to full fitness.
Full-backs Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin are also absent for Saturday’s game with Crystal Palace, with Arteta admitting on Thursday that the Spaniard is “still not there”.
And Calum Chambers will sit out the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
That situation has urged Arteta to look to the market.
The Arsenal manager told reporters: “We always have to be looking because obviously we have some bad injuries for players who are going to be out for a long time.
“We have to see if we can find options there.”
Despite French World Cup winner Umtiti sending fans wild when attending the Gunners’ win over Manchester United, pulling off a deal means meeting Barcelona’s high demands.
And Leipzig will put up a fight for 21-year-old Upamecano, valued at upwards of 45million.
Arteta is keen to place the impetus on to his current squad until a new signing arrives.
He added: “I’m not expecting big things. I’m expecting big things from the players I have at the moment, the players that are recovering from injuries.
“That’s the biggest expectations from my side, they’re there.
“If we can find something to help us go through the season in a more balanced way in certain areas, and is helpful, we’ll look at the options.”
