Arteta admits Arsenal have ‘limitations’ as he explains transfer window strategy | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will only move for a player in January that will make his team “much better”.

The Arsenal manager has been linked with a plethora of attacking players as the club tries to fill the gap left by injured forward Bukayo Saka and a lack of goals in a few of their recent matches.

Arteta stressed Arsenal’s recruitment plans are based on a long-term assessment of the team’s strengths and weaknesses and not knee-jerk reactions to a couple of disappointing results.

He also made it abundantly clear the club remains open to make a big money signing at the start of this year.

He said: “Transfers? It’s always a possibility if it’s somebody that is going to make us much better.

“We always have discussions with the ones above about how we can improve the team and. In this market that is something very difficult to achieve.

“We have certain limitations and we have a lot of gaps and a lot of things to cover to become the team that we want, and then the availability of those players – can you afford them? Even if you want to it is sometimes not possible.”

The Spanish coach’s immediate aim is to send out a side capable of beating Manchester United in their third round FA Cup tie. Arsenal have won it a record 14 times, one more than United’s 13.

“The cup is a massive part of our history,” Arteta acknowledged. “And this is a beautiful game to play against a massive club. A special occasion with the number of supporters they’re going to bring. Our supporters will have to make the stadium our own.”

Arteta started his managerial career by winning the FA Cup with Arsenal in his first season in charge in 2020, when the stadium was largely empty due to Covid restrictions.

He concluded: “That made us all so happy at the club. Now we and want to replicate that and this time share with our people and a crowd.”