Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted the Gunners need to be "extremely cautious" in how they operate in the January transfer window as he implied the squad doesn't have enough depth.
The Spaniard was responding to a question surrounding third-choice right-back Cedric Soares proposed move to Fulham, but his response seemed to suggest Arsenal could be reluctant to let anyone leave next month despite interest from elsewhere.
Pressed for comment on the likelihood of Cedric's rumoured exit, Arteta told the media: "We know where we are in terms of the squad and the numbers that we have so we’re going to be extremely cautious about what we are going to do in this window."
This is not the first time in recent weeks the Arsenal boss has appeared to be sending a message to those above him in the Gunners hirearchy that further recruits are required before anyone can depart in the upcoming transfer window.
Arteta is still reeling from the injury picked up by Gabriel Jesus, which will see Arsenal's talismanic forward sidelined for around three months after he was forced to undergo knee surgery to try and rectify the issue.
Earlier this week, the Gunners boss cut a frustrated figure when discussing Jesus' injury as he explained: "It's going to take some time for sure.
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"He's gone through surgery and that tells you the extent of the injury, so we will be in the market, always active and we will assess the biggest opportunities we have."
The Premier League's youngest manager continued by doubling down on his earlier claim, openly admitted that Arsenal will be looking to bolster their forward line as they cannot afford to operate differenly.
"We are going to be active and active means we are looking to strengthen the team," Arteta continued.
"This squad still doesn't have the luxury of not maximising every single window. We have to do that because it's really important, but then we have to get the right profile.
"It has to be the right player to take us to the next level."
Arsenal do have the luxury of a five-point advantage of at the top of the Premier League, though without the presence of Jesus leading the line, many fans and pundits alike have tipped the Gunners to lose momentum and fall from the summit.
Up next for Arteta's men is the visit of West Ham on Boxing Day, where Arsenal can silence some of the doubters with a win that would ease fears over how they will fare without their main man Jesus.
