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Arsenal 'to back Mikel Arteta with funds in January'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 08 November 2022

Arsenal reportedly plan to back Mikel Arteta with funds in January as the Gunners aim to sustain a Premier League title charge in the second half of the season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will reportedly be backed with funds in the January transfer window.

The 40-year-old has overseen a magnificent start to the season for the Gunners, who are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table with 34 points from their opening 13 matches.

A 1-0 win over Chelsea at the weekend ensured that Arsenal would maintain their two-point lead over Manchester City, and victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers would see them enter the World Cup break at the top of the rankings.

Arsenal spent big over the summer to bring in the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos, with the former two becoming regular fixtures in the first XI.

In preparation for their busy summer activity, Arsenal were extremely quiet in the most recent January window, only bringing in Auston Trusty from the Colorado Rapids.

Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Chelsea on November 6, 2022 © Reuters

However, in order to sustain their charge for the Premier League title, 90min claims that Arsenal are preparing to bolster the squad over the winter months.

The report adds that midfield is a priority area for Arsenal to strengthen, having been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign Youri Tielemans from Leicester City over the summer.

Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga represent the Gunners' current midfield options, but the long-term futures of the latter two remain unclear.

As well as adding a new lynchpin to the team, the North London club are also reported to be after a new striker and new winger, with Marquinhos potentially being loaned out.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been consistent starters out wide for Arsenal this term, with Emile Smith Rowe expected to remain sidelined until after the World Cup after undergoing groin surgery.

Leicester City's Youri Tielemans pictured on October 3, 2022 © Reuters

As a result, Reiss Nelson would be left as Saka's only backup on the right-hand side if Marquinhos is allowed to depart on loan, although Jesus is also capable of playing out wide.

The Brazil international immediately cemented himself as Arsenal's number nine upon arriving from Manchester City, restricting Eddie Nketiah to starts in the Europa League.

PSV Eindhoven's Cody Gakpo and Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhaylo Mudryk are believed to be two of Arsenal's attacking targets, and Zinchenko has supposedly been singing the praises of the latter to Gunners chiefs.

Furthermore, Arsenal scouts were supposedly in attendance to watch Gakpo in action in PSV's Eredivisie showdown with Ajax at the weekend, and he has already come up against the Gunners twice in the Europa League.

Arteta's side are currently preparing for Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday before travelling to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday in their final Premier League game before the World Cup break.