Arsenal given defender update amid double January transfer decision

With just over a week remaining of the January transfer window, it's been a quiet one so far for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta has stated that his side are short in many areas of the squad and they remain open to the idea of doing business.

«At the moment, it is very difficult,» Mikel Arteta said of his side's prospects in the market last month. «We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

»That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

«But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.»

Despite that though it has been barren on the incomings front for Arsenal. It's a slightly different case when it comes to the outgoings department, where there could be some action.

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Cedric Soares has attracted interest from Besiktas who are in talks over a potential move. Arsenal are short of numbers in defence, but open to the idea of