Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has told the board he wants to make January signings “as quickly as possible.

Arteta’s men are currently top of the Premier League table, five points ahead of champions Manchester City.

But there are concerns over the Gunners’ squad depth as the season progresses, especially after Gabriel Jesus picked up a knee injury at the World Cup.

They have been heavily linked with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, but may need to bring in a number of players if they are to continue to challenge for trophies.

“We knew the importance of getting in players early in the summer, and that’s what we want to do in January."

“This is idealistic. Sometimes it is not realistic. "But obviously, if you ask my opinion, [we need players] as quick as possible; we want the players in to get settled,” Arteta said ahead of the Boxing Day clash with West Ham.