Arsene Wenger has revealed that Arsenal are not close to signing anyone in the January transfer window but are willing to allow the likes of Carl Jenkinson and Mathieu Debuchy to leave if the right offer presents itself.
The Gunners are extremely light in midfield with Santi Cazorla out injured, while Mohamed Elneny is unavailable due to his involvement in the African Cup of Nations.
Granit Xhaka is suspended for the next four games after his second sending off in the league where his two footed tackle against Burnley was deemed to be dangerous by referee Jon Moss in consultation with the linesman.
Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin are the only two midfielders available for the Gunners but Wenger insists that he is not close to filling that gap with any new additions this window
"We are not on the verge of signing anyone," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.
The Gunners signed Elneny last January to avert their crisis in the middle of the park while they averted a similar situation a season before when Coquelin came back from loan to fill an important peg in midfield.
They also signed Kim Kallstrom on loan on deadline day but the midfielder was injured and unable to make an immediate impact.
Meanwhile, the manager was all praise for Southampton, who made their way to the final of the EFL Cup at the expense of Liverpool.
The Saints had beaten Arsenal on their way to the final, where they will face Manchester United, who sneaked past Hull City on aggregate after losing the game 2-1 at the KCOM stadium.
Premier League title winner Nwankwo Kanu insists Arsene Wenger has “always been the right man for Arsenal” and should be offered the opportunity to prolong his stay with the Gunners.
The Frenchman is due to reach the end of his current contract in the summer, after more than 20 years in the dugout.
He has enjoyed considerable success during that time, but questions have been raised in recent years as to his suitability for the role heading forward.
There is no question in Kanu’s mind, though, that a club legend remains the ideal candidate to lead the club towards a bright future.
The former Nigeria international, who spent six years in north London between 1998 and 2004, told the press:
“Wenger has always been the right man for Arsenal, there is never any question.
“They are second this season, they are not exactly doing badly – and they have a fantastic team.
“I am friends with everybody from that team and time.
I always try and keep in touch and it is very easy to talk to Wenger. We have been there and done that and we have lots of good memories.”
Arsene Wenger could request a personal hearing in a bid to minimise the punishment he faces for his FA misconduct charge.
The Frenchman was sanctioned after pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor and insulting referee Jon Moss towards the end of Sunday’s 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium.
Wenger is yet to respond and although he is unlikely to contest the charge itself, he could try to talk down the severity of the suspension.
A touchline ban would enable him to conduct pre and post-match duties, as well as speaking to the team at half-time, but a stadium ban would cut off contact completely on matchday.
“It was nothing bad. I said something that you hear every day in football but overall nine times out of 10, you’re not sent to the stands for that.”
