Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is preparing for a busy January transfer window, with the club assessing options to strengthen the squad while leading the Premier League by two points ahead of third-place Aston Villa in a key match on Tuesday.
Arsenal’s position at the top remains fragile, as Opta’s supercomputer currently gives the club a 64.9% chance of winning the Premier League title, yet failure to beat Aston Villa could allow Manchester City, who face Sunderland on Thursday, to move ahead at the start of 2026.
Arteta’s planning is heavily influenced by a long injury list. Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Magalhaes have each missed extended periods, while Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien
Timber have suffered more recent setbacks, reducing options across several positions.
Those absences have underlined how important squad depth is for a title challenge. Arteta sees this January as a chance to protect Arsenal’s position, though spending will depend on who recovers in time and which players become available in the market for the right terms.
Arteta made clear that the club must track every opportunity during January and stay ready to act. The head coach stressed that planning covers every area of the pitch, from attacking positions through midfield and defence, as Arsenal look to sustain consistency through a demanding schedule.
"Depending, as I said, on the availability of certain players, Arteta said, when asked if Arsenal would make use of the market. The window is there. We're Arsenal. Now, we have to be looking at it. Okay, what do we need? We have to be actively looking. And then can we do it or not? That's a different story, but our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen. So, hopefully [a] very positive [transfer window]. We're going to be really aware of the situation and the timescales of certain players, going from the front line to the back line. That's the depth that you need. When you look across the other clubs as well, they have 24 or 25 squad players, so there's nothing special in our squad. The thing is that we have more injuries than expected, some of them not avoidable, I would say.But we want to be better, and we know how important having the right availability with players is going to be in the season. "
Arsenal transfer window context after summer spending
Arsenal already invested heavily in the previous summer window, bringing in Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres. Those signings added quality, yet injuries have reduced continuity, pushing Arteta and the recruitment staff to consider further additions earlier than originally planned.
The injury situation has prompted comparisons with rivals. Arteta pointed out that other leading clubs often carry 24 or 25 senior players. Arsenal’s squad size is similar on paper, but extended absences have created extra pressure, especially with Premier League ambitions and the chase for a first title since 2004.
Several players have missed long stretches, while others have suffered shorter problems, yet the combined effect has been significant. Arsenal’s staff now monitor medical updates closely, as availability during January and February will help decide which positions, if any, receive priority investment in the market.
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Martin Odegaard | Long absence this season |
| Kai Havertz | Long absence this season |
| Gabriel Jesus | Long absence this season |
| Gabriel Magalhaes | Long absence this season |
| Ben White | Recent injury |
| Riccardo Calafiori | Recent injury |
| Cristhian Mosquera | Recent injury |
| Jurrien Timber | Recent injury |
Arteta accepts that some injuries could not be avoided but believes Arsenal must still improve availability levels. With Villa and Manchester City close behind, the club’s response in the January window, and the speed of key recoveries, may play an important role in deciding the 2025-26 title race.
