Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal could dip into the transfer market in January after admitting the Gunners have a "short squad".
Arsenal were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night following a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring for the hosts with his 11th goal in 12 Carabao Cup outings, but Danny Welbeck levelled from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box by debutant Karl Hein.
Goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey secured a win for the away side in what was a poor performance by the Premier League leaders. After the match, Arteta was asked if his side need to strengthen in January.
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal January transfers, Hein's mistake and Vieira's form
The Spaniard said: "That’s the squad that we have and we have to utilise in the best possible way and today we came short, especially because we didn’t do what we have to do in both boxes to win a football match. We paid that price."
"It’s the same squad as when we win," he added. "I said from day one that we have a short squad because at the end we left some players. It’s what we have.
"If everyone’s available and no one is injured we are OK, but the moment there is, we know what it is. It’s nothing new. I think I said it the first day after the transfer window."
When further pressed on making signings in January, Arteta said: "That’s a window that is open and we’ll have to discuss the opportunities that we have, the capacity that we have for any changes and be on the market for opportunities because we don’t know what’s going to happen the last game before the World Cup. So it’s a lot of options that are open."
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