Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has played down suggestions that signing a player in January would be enough to guarantee the Gunners their first Premier League title since 2004.
With star winger Bukayo Saka sidelined by injury, fans and pundits alike have speculated on whether Arsenal need reinforcements during the January transfer window to challenge Liverpool for the title.
Arteta, however, cautioned against oversimplifying the issue.
“Signing somebody is not enough, that’s for sure, because that signing has to score then how many goals?” Arteta said.
“It has to be a lot of things: sign and then score 20 goals from here to the end, and you have a better chance? Maybe yes, I don’t know.
“But I’m very happy with the players that we have and the amount of goals we’ve scored as well. It’s more than enough to win a Premier League. Our numbers are enough, but the reality is someone is doing more, so we have to be better. That’s life.”
Open to Strengthening the Squad
While Arteta expressed satisfaction with his current squad, he acknowledged the possibility of bringing in new talent, provided the right opportunity arises.
“I don’t know [about a January signing] because the focus is on the players we have,” he added.
“If something stronger is in the market that we can afford and we believe is going to have a real impact on the team, we always have to be open to that possibility. We’d have the ability to improve the squad in the windows.”
Arsenal’s Title Race
Arsenal have been strong contenders this season, but injuries to key players like Saka have added pressure to maintain consistency against fierce competition, especially from Liverpool.
With the January transfer window looming, Arteta’s comments suggest Arsenal will carefully weigh their options rather than rushing into a signing. Whether the Gunners will strengthen their squad remains to be seen, but Arteta’s confidence in his team underlines his belief in their title credentials.