Mikel Arteta wants to bolster his Arsenal squad next month (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will be ‘active’ in the January transfer window and target ‘next level’ signings as they look to maintain a Premier League title challenge.

The Gunners moved five points clear of defending champions Manchester City before the Premier League paused for the Qatar World Cup.

January will be viewed as an opportunity to bolster Arteta’s squad, which has already been depleted by the injury to star striker Gabriel Jesus.

Asked about the club’s transfer plans ahead of the winter window, Arteta said: ‘We are going to be active, and active means always looking to strengthen the team.

‘This squad still doesn’t have the luxury of not maximizing every single window and we have to do that because it’s really important.

‘But then we want to get the right profile, the right player and a player that is really going to impact the team and take us to the next level.’

Jesus was one of Arsenal’s most important players in the first-half of the season, with the Brazilian impressing following a £50m move from Man City last summer.

Gabriel Jesus injured his knee at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

But he could now be sidelined for up to three months after suffering a knee injury during the World Cup.

Arsenal are also concerned about an injury Reiss Nelson suffered in a recent friendly against Juventus, while Emile Smith Rowe has been out since September with a groin problem.

Asked for an update on the trio, Arteta said: ‘With Gabby [Jesus] it’s very difficult to put a timeframe [on his recovery]. It was a significant injury and knowing him, I prefer not to give any dates away.

‘With Reiss unfortunately he picked up an injury in the game against Juventus and he is going to be out for a while I think. Emile is close, he is starting to train again. He had a little setback but he is in a good place.’

Pressed on whether Jesus will be out for three months, Arteta responded: ‘I never gave a date so that’s not the words that I used, and I haven’t used any words right now.

‘I said that we don’t know, it will take some time for sure. Obviously, he’s going through surgery so that’s the extent of the injury.’

Arsenal return to Premier League action on Boxing Day against London rivals West Ham, before travelling to Brighton on New Year’s Eve.

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