Manager says he will bolster the squad after news that Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy are out for three months and is understood to be looking at Virgil van Dijk.Arsène Wenger has revealed he will work “day and night” to bring in new players following Arsenal’s latest injury blow.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta and defender Mathieu Debuchy have both been ruled out for three months to add to a growing injury list and Wenger knows he has no option but to spend the £20 million at his disposal in the January transfer window, with defence a particular concern.
“Yes we are more [in the market now],” Wenger admitted last night. “We have [Calum] Chambers and we have [Héctor] Bellerín, who is coming on well, and I want to give them a chance as well, but of course we are in the market like many other clubs.
“We work really hard morning until late night to try to get one or two players in.”
Wenger is acutely aware the club cannot afford to slip in the race for Champions League places and he will consult his scouts over a number of players the club have watched, including West Ham's Winston Reid and Celtic's Virgil van Dijk.
Wenger confirmed on Thursday that captain Arteta was forced to undergo surgery on his left ankle that has left him facing a race against time to play again this season.
That immediately raised question marks over 32-year-old Arteta’s future, as his contract is due to expire in the summer.
It is understood, however, that the Spaniard had already agreed to sign a new one-year deal before the latest injury blow and that Arsenal will honour their commitment. The club are still deciding when to make the announcement.
The length of Arteta’s lay-off is a shock to Arsenal, who had hoped he may be able to return in a month.
Wenger said: “Mikel has had surgery which went well. I have just seen him, he is back with us at the training ground. He had a limited mobility in his ankle and some persistent inflammation that had an impact on his calf. That meant we had to make the decision to have surgery and it’s a proper solution which gives him the best chance to recover.”
Arteta has made 135 appearances for Arsenal since signing from Everton in August 2011 on a four-year deal for £10 million. He took over the full club captaincy last summer after the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona.
Jack Wilshere, who has been out since November, is expected to start full training inside two weeks, while Aaron Ramsey was on the substitutes’ bench against Stoke City.
Wenger, though, was already on the lookout for a new holding midfielder and may be forced to reassess his options following the news on Arteta.
Ideally, the Frenchman would prefer to wait until the summer to launch a bid for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin. Arsenal are also monitoring Ilkay Gundogan’s contract situation at Borussia Dortmund.
Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, who has been watched by Arsenal, could be available this month after his club, Sevilla, opened talks over a deal to sign Lucho González on loan from Porto.
Arsenal are set to sign midfielder Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw, but the 17-year-old is unlikely to make an immediate impact.
Debuchy’s latest absence was confirmed after the right-back underwent surgery on the dislocated shoulder he suffered against Stoke City.
He has already missed three months this season after suffering a serious ankle injury in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City in September, which required surgery.
The summer signing’s return lasted only seven games. “Mathieu had a surgery on his right shoulder following the injury on Sunday,” said Wenger. “It’s unbelievable because he’s had two surgeries in the same season. He just came back, he played seven games and he’s out again. I count three months out for Mathieu because contact will be a problem for the shoulder.”
Bellerín replaced Debuchy against Stoke and the 19-year-old may be asked to deputise again against City at Eastlands on Sunday.
Arsenal have been looking at defenders who can cover at both centre back and full-back, including Reid, Van Dijk and Frenchman Loïc Perrin, where Wenger is woefully short of cover.
There is some good news for Wenger, as left-back Kieran Gibbs is on his way back from a heel injury and could travel with the squad to City.
Wenger also revealed that Danny Welbeck will not have recovered from his thigh problem in time to face City, although the striker has returned to training and could be back the following weekend. “Danny Welbeck is not ready yet, he is still feeling some pain, so we will have to be patient,” said Wenger.
By Matt Law, Telegraph
