Arteta drops hint on Arsenal’s January transfer plans after Crystal Palace win

Mikel Arteta has poured cold water on Arsenal fans’ hopes for a busy end to the January transfer window.

The Gunners boss insisted that he and club chiefs “love” the players already at the Emirates, despite supporters pleading for a mid-season shake-up. Arteta addressed the topic of transfers after Arsenal thrashed a Crystal Palace side in turmoil 5-0 on home soil, with eight different Gunners players contributing to goals.

Having been asked whether his team could compete with Liverpool and Manchester City, the only teams ahead of them in the Premier League table, the Gunners boss vowed: “We will try our best. We need to make sure our players feel trusted and have the confidence. If they are doubting that is not helpful. We love the players we have.”

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Most Arsenal fans agree that Arteta needs a new striker to take his team to the next level, but speaking earlier this month after being dumped out of the FA Cup by Liverpool, the Spaniard once again dampened hopes. “At the moment it does not look realistic,” Arteta told beIN Sports, with the Gunners reluctant to pay a huge price for No.1 target and Brentford striker Ivan Toney. “What my job is, and what we have to do is improve our players and try to get better results with the players we have.”

Having echoed that message following Saturday’s win, it now looks unlikely that Arsenal chiefs will splash the cash. But what of players leaving the Emirates before 11pm on February 1?

At the start of December, Arteta was quizzed on whether or not he could guarantee that No.2 goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale would remain a Gunner beyond the end of the window. “I won’t do that to any player. Any player,” the Arsenal manager declared. “I cannot tell you that any Arsenal player is not going to leave in January. Or if he’s going to stay here for the next three years.”

Your turn! Who should Arsenal sign and sell before Deadline Day? Join the debate in the comments section.

When specifically asked to categorically state that Ramsdale won’t join Newcastle, Arteta reaffirmed: “I won’t say that no player is going to go to Newcastle. Or no member of the staff either. I won’t say it. If you say yes or no, I won’t say it. Is that clear or no? No? Okay, the answer is no for any player. I won’t say it for any player. No player or the staff I guarantee that is not going to be leaving in January. No I cannot guarantee that nobody is going to be leaving in January. Newcastle or any other club. So it’s a no. Clear?”

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