Kieran Tierney talks opened as Mikel Arteta provides update

Arsenal need a strong January to remain in title contention, and that goes for what they do off the pitch as well as on it.

The Gunners sit second in the Premier League after 19 matches, six points behind leaders Liverpool. Arne Slot's side have played one game fewer, though, and remain in pole position to finish the campaign as champions.

Mikel Arteta added a number of players to Arsenal's ranks over the summer, with Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori among those to join for a significant fee. WIth Bukayo Saka and Ben White among those injured, though, more reinforcements might be required.

There could also be some more exits, too, with Arteta preparing to streamline his squad for the second half of the campaign. Here are Mirror Football's latest lines from around North London.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has played down suggestions a big spending spree might be on the cards. However, after making a late move for Raheem Sterling at the end of the summer window, he hasn't ruled out doing any business.

"I don't know. The focus is on the players that we have," he said on Friday. "If there is somebody in the market that we can afford and we believe they will have a real impact on the team then we have to be open for that possibility always.

"At the moment, the focus is on what we have. That market is much more limited than the one in the summer.”

Celtic have begun talks with Kieran Tierney over a potential pre-contract agreement, according to BBC Sport. The Scotland left-back left the Glasgow club for Arsenal back in 2019, but appears unlikely to remain at the Emirates Stadium beyond this season.

Tierney had been close to a summer exit after spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad. However, an injury sustained on international duty at Euro 2024 put paid to that.

The defender made his first Arsenal appearance in more than 500 days when he played against Crystal Palace in this season's Carabao Cup. It might not be the start of a redemption arc, though, and the Gunners' first summer departure could be wrapped up sooner rather than later.

Thomas Partey and Jorginho are in the final few months of their contracts and free to speak to potential suitors overseas. Both could yet end up extending their stays in North London, but Arsenal's manager was non-commital with regard to the pair.

“It's close communication with them, what their idea is, what they want to do, and what are their intentions,” Arteta told reporters. He indicated pre-contract exits were possible, but had no doubts about his squad's commitment to the cause.

"All the players that are here, they want to focus on performing and impacting the team and if something happens there then we will assess it," Arteta added.