Arsenal: Mikel Arteta Responds to Martin Odegaard Transfer Links

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Arsenal are working on ‘various positions’ for them to strengthen this window having seen a number of players leave the club in January.

Shipping out deadwood as well as those unhappy at the club, Arsenal have successfully moved on Sokratis, Matt Macey, Sead Kolasinac, William Saliba and soon-to-be Mesut Ozil this window. Two of those departures are on loan, but only one is expected to have any future in north London.

Trimming the squad and creating better harmony within the group – as well as easing financial output – was always the first plan on the agenda for the Spaniard, who can now focus his attention elsewhere.

Speaking on the official Arsenal website ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup clash away at Southampton, Mikel Arteta claimed his side are in the process of sounding out players, but refused to be drawn on links to Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid.

Mikel Arteta responds to Arsenal links with Martin Odegaard

"“Sorry, guys, but I cannot comment on players who play for different clubs,” he said."

Regarding other potential incomings, Arteta insisted the first part of the window is all-but completed, opening the door for arrivals.

"“We are in that process right now” he added. “We’ve done the first part [selling players] more or less and now we are focusing on the second phase. Obviously this market and the context makes it really difficult but we are looking at options and we will see what we can do. “We are looking at various positions because the movements that we’ve made in this transfer window with some players leaving the club leaves us a little bit short in certain areas. If we can then we will do it, if we can’t then we will just keep going with what we have.”"

While an approach has been made for Odegaard, other areas that need strengthening are at the back. It has been heavily speculated that a right central defender was being eyed up this month, however, despite those claims not one name has been linked with a move to north London thus far. There is still time for movement on that front.

However, given some of the departures, Arteta revealed another area of concern.

Mikel Arteta Wants Cover for Kieran Tierney

Notably against Crystal Palace, the lack of a left footed player at left-back caused Arsenal all sorts of balance issues, contributing to a limp 0-0 stalemate.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles filled in ineffectively, with Bukayo Saka eventually moving into the role he’s previously occupied.

Without the Scot in the side Arsenal are offensively weaker and defensively more vulnerable, thus Arteta mentioned the possibility of signing some natural cover in the position following Kolasinac’s move to Schalke 04.

"“With the departure of Kola, we are a little bit short with left-footed full-backs at the moment,” he stated. “We know we can use Ainsley there, we can use Bukayo there and we can use Cedric – who has played in that position – so we have some options. A natural option to Kieran? Obviously, we don’t. But we can adapt. “That means that the option is open and we will look to see what is available.”"

While not essential in the scheme of other requirements, it is a worrying position considering the volume of minutes that Tierney is set to play between now and the end of the season, on top of what he’s already accumulated.

Elsewhere a goalkeeper is being eyed up as backup for Bernd Leno, with Runar Alex Runarsson and the club mulling over options around Europe for him to join on loan. Of course, any move away would depend on the Gunners sourcing an adequate replacement.

The final third of this transfer window is building up to be an interesting one following the already departed. What can’t be ignored is the difficulty of the market to navigate in, so expecation must be tempered.