Mikel Arteta: 'We will try to sign a new midfielder'

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that his side will look to sign a new midfielder in the January transfer window.

The Gunners are set to wave goodbye to Ainsley Maitland-Niles ahead of his loan move to Roma, while Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are at the Africa Cup of Nations.

As a result, Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga are the club's only senior midfield options right now, alongside 18-year-old Charlie Patino, and Arteta is hopeful of reinforcements.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest, Arteta said: "We are very, very short at the moment. We are going to move and look for options because we are very short there."

Patino will be eyeing his full debut for the club when the Gunners travel to the City Ground for the third round, and the teenager has heaped praise on Martin Odegaard ahead of the contest.

However, Arteta has admitted that Arsenal are thin on the ground in terms of numbers due to injuries and COVID-related absentees.