Mikel Arteta insists that the Gunners are ‘open’ and ‘prepared’ for the transfer window [Alexander Canillas/SPP]

THE transfer window is now open, but Arsenal supporters shouldn’t hold their breath when it comes to seeing the club sign a striker.

January is always a difficult time to find a firing forward who is available – at least at the right price. The Gunners are therefore expected to delay that business until the summer, and instead focus their search on beefing up the midfield.

In particular, Mikel Arteta will be hoping to land a winger following the devastating news that Bukayo Saka will be sidelined until at least March after undergoing surgery on his hamstring. To make matters even worse, Raheem Sterling, currently on loan from Chelsea, has also been ruled out through injury.

So far, the rumour mill has been as busy as ever, teasing a list of potential reinforcements, including West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, Ademola Lookman, who is currently impressing at Atalanta, and even Manchester United’s want-away winger Marcus Rashford.

Arteta remains coy on Arsenal’s transfer plans, insisting that the key to finding a solution to his Saka problem lies within the squad that he already has at his disposal.

The Gunners boss says he is busy “putting some ideas together”. Those plans have so far seen Kai Havertz drop back into midfield, with Gabriel Martinelli switching to the right and Leandro Trossard on the left, while Gabriel Jesus has come into the starting line-up in a more drifting role.

It’s just another day at the tactics board for a manager who has already had to cope for large spells this season without club captain Martin Odegaard, while also constantly having to shuffle his defence.

“I am putting some ideas together,” said Arteta. “I haven’t got there yet, but I have a few. Then I want to speak with them [the players] as well, to understand how we are going to take it [the injuries] in a positive way. Because we are going to be different.

“We went through the period without Martin. We went through the period with five or six defenders missing, we went through the period without many other players, too. We will continue to do that: finding ways and taking them with positive energy. That’s it.

“We have to look internally at what we have and be creative. How can we mould the squad? How can we adapt to the circumstances and be different? We cannot pretend to be the same.

“We’re going to have to try to find the best way to do it and be very competitive and win a lot of games.”

Quizzed on the arrival of any potential new signings, Arteta added: “The preparation is done. We are ready if something happens.

“Obviously, we didn’t predict the situation with Bukayo and Raheem [being injured] at the same time. We predicted more if something had happened, for example, in the defensive line. But the job is done. If something has to happen, we will be open. But the main focus is now on how we should strive to distil the potential that there is in this squad.”