Arsenal face Joao Palhinha January transfer obstacle as Mikel Arteta plots midfield overhaul

With the January transfer window approaching Arsenal are understood to be finalising their plans. Meetings will take place over the next few days to determine what exactly what the Gunners do next month.

Last season Mikel Arteta's side opted for an aggressive approach, trying to bring in Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in big-money transfers. These were deals that exhibited the ambition — set from Josh Kroenke at the top of the club to every member of staff lower down — to provide Arteta with a squad capable of winning the Premier League and Champions League. When the numbers involved were deemed to be too exorbitant though, they also demonstrated a willingness to walk away that is earning Edu a reputation as one of the shrewdest sporting directors in the industry. Arsenal moved instead to sign Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Jorginho, all three of whom have significantly improved the depth of the Gunners' squad.

It is not thought that they will be as busy this time around. Arteta though, admitted that the club would be open to any opportunities that arose next month. «It depends as sometimes there are opportunities in the market and also the team needs something that it doesn’t have, something comes up that you don’t expect,» he said ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Luton on Tuesday night. «You have to be prepared, that is for sure. Last year there were certain things that we could not do in the summer as well at the end that we wanted to address in January and we were still not able to do them.»

One such opportunity that could arise is the chance to bolster the Gunners' midfield. With Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe all out with long-term injuries, Arsenal are currently short in this