The Gunners boss has yet to strengthen his squad this winter but he has now claimed that he has "certain targets" in mind as the window approaches its end; clubs have until Thursday at 11pm to secure reinforcements. The Gunners have been linked with a number of new strikers, including Newcastle's Callum Wilson and Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, while there are reports suggesting both Cedric Soares and Fabio Vieira could leave this month.

The Spaniard told reporters at a press conference: "At the moment, it is very difficult. We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

"That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

"But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger."